I glance over from the file I'm working on toward Ron's message, still laying unopened on my desk. I chew my lower lip and let my eyes drift back to my actual work with the hope that I can distract myself with the Madison case. The Investigation Department is already hot on the trail of whichever Ministry employee tampered with official documents and they don't need my help with it. Nor am I needed to reexamine the evidence or prep the witnesses and attorneys. The moment the Investigation Department finds the person responsible, I'll be needed to draft up arrest and court papers, but I am just in their way until then.

I even reread the current status report on my custody battle, despite there being no real new developments. The department has begun the process of interviewing Ron and I's friends and families to start initial reports and opinions into who they believe will be a more fit parent. In a few weeks they will assess our living conditions and will have a follow up examination right before I am due to give birth. The current, albeit unofficial, opinion of the department is that I will be awarded full custody for reasons such as a more steady and reliable job schedule, excellent reports from those interviewed on my behalf, and a better home environment to raise a child.

I have next to nothing to do or worry about to keep my mind off of whatever it is Ron felt the need to send me after learning Malfoy and I are an item.

Setting down my quill, I reach for the message hesitantly, as if it could burn or bite me. Unlike my usual messages, this one is concealed by the envelope it was delivered in, rather than the typical slip of paper April writes on when someone has sent me an owl or called for me. In fact, the handwriting isn't even April's, it's Ron's. I would recognize his hastily scrawl anywhere. I turn it over with trembling fingers, finally making a move to open it, when there is a knock on my office door.

I drop the envelope immediately as if I am a child caught stealing from the cookie jar. "Come in!"

"Please tell me you are done for the day and that we can go." Malfoy's voice is begging as he strolls into my office, his coat already folded over his arm, a smirk spread out across his lips. "Because I would very much like to get that take-out you mentioned this morning." His silver eyes drop toward my desk, probably to check for any open files or work documents that might be keeping me later than he'd like, and he spots the envelope lying face down. "What's that?"

"Uh…" I look down at the message, hastily trying to decide if I want Malfoy to know about it. If Ron said anything remotely threatening or rude to me, I know it will completely ruin the nice evening we've both probably been thinking about since coming into the office. "It's not important."

"You're a shit liar, you know that, right?"

"I know," I admit, picking up the envelope and tucking it away in my bag before he can see the handwriting and potentially recognize it as Ron's. "It's just some message from this morning that I haven't got around to opening yet. I can ignore it for a little while longer."

He arches a perfect blond brow and crosses his arms against his chest, his tongue clicking against his teeth. "If you say so."

Sighing, I stand and walk around my desk so I'm standing near him, but not quite touching. "It's… it's from Ron."

"Ah." Malfoy's eyes flicker toward my bag, narrowing slightly as if the redhead himself is lying in wait in the envelope. "Do you want to read it?"

Hesitantly, I shake my head. "Not really."

"Do you want me to read it for you?"

"Absolutely not." At Malfoy's hurt expression, I reach out for his hands. "I'm afraid that if he wrote something mean about me or you that he'll ruin our evening and I just really want to have a nice cuddle with you on the couch and maybe a hot bubble bath, I don't know."

Malfoy's thumbs rub soft circles into the back of my hands before he tugs gently to make me step closer to him. "Then we won't read it and we won't let it ruin our night in. All right?"

"But what if we're both too busy worrying about what Ron could have written-"

"Granger." His voice is firm, but his eyes gentle. "It's going to bother you until you read it. I won't look at it if that's what you want, but I think you should just read it and get it over with. Then I can spend the rest of the evening doing whatever you need me to do to make you feel better, assuming you even need my comfort."

I bite my lower lip and glance back to my bag. "How about we just read it together? But back at my flat, I don't want to read it here."

He pulls me in and kisses my forehead, letting me wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. "We'll do whatever you what. Promise."

"I want to read it," I say.

Malfoy looks up from his Chinese takeout, his chopsticks poised to grab more food. "Right now?"

"In a few minutes," I amend, smiling at how he looks at the last of his food longingly as if he expects me to throw it all away the moment I open Ron's message. "But I don't want to do it here."

Silver eyes glance around my living room, confusion shining in their depths. The telly is on, playing some American movie about finding a secret Knight's Templar treasure staring Nicholas Cage. We are sitting with our backs reclining against different ends of the couch, but our legs are entwined and covered by a soft blue blanket while we eat our takeout. Truthfully, I haven't been more comfortable in a little while.

"Um, all right. I promised we'd do whatever you want. Where, then?"

"The bathroom."

"The bathroom?"

"Is there an echo in here?"

"Ha ha, very funny, Granger." Malfoy eats the last of his chicken before setting the carton down on the coffee table. "Why the bathroom?"

"I told you at the office, I thought I might want a nice bubble bath and I do."

"You want to read Weasley's letter to you, whilst in the bath?"

"Yes. With you of course."

Malfoy's eyebrows raise as a cheeky grin spreads across his face. "You know I'm pretty much always on board with something that requires you getting undressed. But isn't it a bit weird to read his message while in the tub with me?"

I shrug, setting aside my own empty carton of Chinese food and leaning forward so I can crawl over his legs and straddle his lap, my hands moving to play with his hair. "Maybe, but the minute we decide the letter doesn't deserve to be read, we can toss it aside and then very easily forget about it."

"You're going to be the death of me, I swear it. You're a tad insatiable, you know that, right?"

I lean forward so my lips are barely grazing his as I reply, "I know. I can't decide if it's because it's you, or if it's just my pregnancy hormones."

Malfoy chuckles and tugs on my hips, pulling me forward and bridging the small gap between us. I pull on his hair roughly, moaning as he grinds his hips up into mine, keeping me firm against him with his grip on my hips. When he moves his head so he can press open-mouthed kisses down the side of his throat, I groan and grab a fistful of the front of his shirt, pushing him back against the couch and forcibly leaning against him.

"Save some for later," I say breathlessly when he gives me a cocky grin. "You go draw the bath; I'll clean this up and grab the message."

Malfoy brushes a stray curl away from my face, his fingers grazing my cheekbones. "Are you sure this is how you what to read it?"

"No, but I know I do want to take a bath with you so I might as well get it out of the way beforehand."

"Granger," he tugs on my hair gently when I start to pull away. "If you get upset or anything, you know we can just go right back to cuddling on the couch, right? We don't have to do anything… physical to take your mind off of it. I could whip you up some of that wine flavored water and pop out for some of that Muggle ice cream you like so well and we could watch some sappy romantic comedy if that'd make you feel better."

I pause. "If you feel uncomfortable reading it in the tub-"

"I don't feel uncomfortable," he quickly interjects. "It's just going to be a little weird. But don't worry about me, I'm a big boy."

I smile. "Then draw the bath. I'll be there in a minute."

I climb off of his lap and start gathering the empty takeout cartons as Malfoy makes his way to the bathroom. I hear the water start as I make my way to the kitchen and toss the trash. Returning to the living room, I flip off the telly and fold the blanket, draping it over the couch. Taking a deep breath, I head by to the front door and retrieve my bag. I set it on the counter as I rummage through it for Ron's message. When I pull it out, I stare at it for a moment before deciding I was going to need something that at least tasted like wine to get me through this. I pull a wine glass out of the cabinet and fill it with water. With a tap and a nonverbal spell, my glass of water turns deep red. I turn to the frig and pull out a beer for Malfoy, having figured out which kind he liked by the way he had stockpiled it in his own frig.

Walking toward my bedroom, I find a trail of Malfoy's clothes. Leaning against the doorframe of my bedroom, I see him already reclining in the bath. Water shines against his torso, his muscles sharp and chiseled. He turns at the sound of my footsteps and smiles when he sees me.

"Is that for me?"

I smirk and move toward the tub to hand him the beer, letting my eyes slowly roam over the bits of his body not completely covered by the bubbles.

"See something you like, Granger?"

"Maybe."

His smile turns into a smirk and he holds out his hand. "Why don't you give me your glass and join me then?"

I smile softly and hand him my glass before setting Ron's message down beside the tub. Malfoy's eyes watch my every moment and I reach down for the hem of my dress and pull it over my head, letting it fall to the floor. I roll down my leggings and step out of them. Even though he's seen me naked before, my face burns bright as I peel off my panties and unclasp my bra.

"Why are you blushing?"

"Because you're staring."

"Well I can't help that, you're stunning. Now please come here before I have to get out and come get you myself."

I step toward the tub and place my hand against the wall to steady myself as I step in. Turning so my back is facing Malfoy, I slowly lower myself between his legs. His chest is strong and firm behind me, his legs slightly bent because he is too tall for my bath. Once I'm settled, Malfoy hands me my glass and I recline against him and slip my wine flavored water. His free hand traces patterns into my thigh and I sigh happily.

"This is nice," I say. "But next time, I'll transfigure the tub so it's a little bigger."

Malfoy laughs, the feeling of his chest rumbles through me. "It's really not that bad, Granger. I don't mind."

I hear the sound of glass hitting tile as Malfoy lowers his beer to the floor and eases my head back so he can pour water onto my hair. I melt in-between his thighs and he pours some of my shampoo between his hands and starts massaging my scalp. His nails scratch me gently as he goes, moving in circles and lathering up all of my curls.

"Oh Merlin," I moan. "I might never let you leave if you keep doing that."

Malfoy chuckles and rinses my hair, continuing the massage as he washes out the shampoo. "I just figured I should since we are in the bath." His arms pull around my stomach to pull me closer against him. My heart warms as he adjusts his hands so he's cradling my baby bump.

I take another drink before setting my glass down and reaching for Ron's letter. "All right, let's do this."

Malfoy leans forward slightly to kiss my shoulder blade before resting his head completely on my shoulder. "Ready when you are."

I will my fingers not to shake as I open the envelope. Tucked inside is a small slip of paper. Turning the envelope upside down, I shake it over my open hand. "What the hell?" I mumble when something besides the paper falls from the envelope, missing my hand completely and splashing into the water.

"I'll find it," Malfoy says, one hand already moving away from my stomach to feel around the bottom of the tub for whatever fell out. "Just read it."

I pull out the paper and toss aside the envelope. My eyes scan the page quickly, my hand immediately flying to my mouth in shock. "Oh no. Oh holy fuck."

"Got it!" Malfoy says triumphantly.

I watch in mute horror as his hand breaks free from the surface of the bath, a shining diamond ring in his grasp.

I can feel Malfoy stiffen behind me in surprise. "Granger… what the fuck?"

"It's not- that can't be," I say, looking at the ring and then twisting my neck so I can meet Malfoy's eyes. "It's a lie!"

"What's a lie? What did the message say?"

I hold out the letter to Malfoy, my panic and anger successfully tongue-tying me. He takes the parchment from me quickly, silver eyes scanning Ron's hasty scrawl.

Hermione,

I'm so happy we were able to sort everything out. I know I've been a prat lately, but I'm so lucky and grateful we could meet and fix everything. I love you and I can't wait for our baby to arrive. You're going to be a great mother and an even better wife. Be sure to let Malfoy down easy, won't you? We both know how he can be.

Love always,

Ron

I can practically feel Malfoy's anger rolling off of him. Unable to bare the silence, I turn around completely, splashing water over the side of the tub as I straddle his waist, my arms locking around his neck so he can't storm out without pulling me with him.

"What the fuck?" His voice is slow and calm. Smooth and dangerous. "Granger, what the fuck is this?"

"I don't know," I say honestly. "I don't know."

"What is he talking about?"

"I don't know, Malfoy! I haven't spoken to him since our first date!"

"Then what the hell is he going on about? And why is he sending you back your engagement ring?!"

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" My voice cracks and tears threaten to spill down my cheeks as my hormones attack, latching themselves to every emotion I'm feeling and amplifying them. "I don't know!"

Malfoy's eyes soften at the sound of my cracking voice and he searchs my face before tossing the paper and ring over the side of the tub. He sits up slightly and holds my face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears that leak from my eyes.

"Don't cry, Granger, please don't cry."

"I c-can't help it," I sob, moving to nestle my head into the crook of his neck. "I don't know what he's trying to do."

Malfoy's arms slowly wrap around my body, holding me tight against him. "This," he says simply. "This is what he's trying to do. He took a risk that you'd open that around me. He wants us to fight… to argue. He wanted to trick me into thinking you had gotten back together with him. He wanted me to break up with you."

"But… it didn't work, right?" I pull my face out of its hiding spot between Malfoy's neck and shoulder so I can meet his eyes.

He shakes his head softly. "No. It didn't."

I watch his face closely and wipe away the last of my tears. "I want you, Malfoy. Only you. Ron can go fuck himself."

Malfoy's eyes flicker to my lips and he nods. "I know; I believe you, Granger."

There is a slight pause before we attack each other, our lips meeting in open mouthed fury, our rage at Ron and what he tried to do fueling our passion for each other. I grip his forearms tightly as one of his hands slide down my back to grip my ass, pulling me tighter against his hardening length beneath me. I rank my nails through his hair and down his back as his lips move down my neck before biting down at the base of my collarbone.

"Malfoy," I beg as his hand continues to grope my ass, the other teasing my breast. "Malfoy, I need you."

"We can't," he mumbles against my lips. "The baby-"

I let out a frustrated moan and trace my lips across his jawline and down his throat. I don't register his hands moving toward my waist until he flips our positions in one swift moment, spilling water out of one side of the tub and onto the tile floor. His hands pin my wrists above my head to the edge of the tub as he looks down on me hungrily.

"Please," I beg again. "I need you-"

"Sorry love, but that's a no go for now. However," he leans forward and presses his body against mine, his length hard between my thighs. "I can offer another solution."

"Fuck!" I scream as he grinds against me, his length rubbing hard against my clit. "Oh, fuck, do that again!"

He laughs breathlessly as he complies and continues to grid his hips into mine, giving me the friction I desperately need without entering me. Releasing my hands so he can grip the edge of the tub, Malfoy continues to ride his hips against mine, leaning forward to nip at my neck as he keeps up his fast and hard pace. I wrap my arms around him, desperate to hold onto something- anything- as my release approaches.

"Shit, shit, shit!" I hiss, my nails digging into his back.

"Say my name," he growls as my back arches, my climax nearly there.

"Fucking fuck! Draco!"

My release crashes into me as my back arches even more, my chest pressed hard against his, my nails digging so far into his skin that I should probably be concerned that I might be drawing blood, but the euphoric feeling radiating through my body is too strong to ignore and takes precedence. Above me, he thrusts against me a few more times before groaning deeply and meeting his own release, his cum shooting up onto our stomachs, still pressed together tightly.

We're panting as we lean back to look at each other. Smiles break across our faces and he leans down to kiss me, his kiss tender and soft.

"So, do I get first name privileges now?" I ask.

His laugh is breathless as he kisses me again. "Only if I do too."