Author's Note: All disclaimers apply. I do not own the characters contained in this story. They belong to J.K. Rowling, her publishers, and Warner Bros. Inc. Also thanks for all of the reviews. They are very inspirational and appreciated! Edited to add credit to Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and her plot from Shanna. This entire disclaimer applies to her work as well.

This ends the story and I would like to thank each and every reviewer. I couldn't possibly name you all, but each and every comment was noted and valued. Thank you all for the interest in this story and the support.

Epilogue

"She's beautiful Hermione," Molly Weasley beamed, cradling the tiny newborn in her arms. "You've outdone yourself."

"Do you suppose anyone else could hold her Mum," Ginny said impatiently, as she stood beside Hermione's bed hands on her hips. "You haven't put her down since you flew into the room."

"She's not a toy you can pass around Ginerva," Molly rebuked, softly. "You'll have your own soon enough," she said, nodding toward Ginny's own small but rounded belly.

"Here," Ron whispered, discreetly passing a small bottle into Draco's hand. "Mum's going to fuss and make us all miserable for the rest of the day. We're prepared, you should be too."

Raising a tired, but content gaze to question Ron, Draco lifted an eyebrow. "You snuck Firewiskey into a hospital room? Weasley!" he whispered fiercely, but when Harry began cooing over Molly's shoulder and Ginny's tears started again, mirroring Molly's, Draco took a long drink without thinking twice. Ron just smirked and nodded as though he knew that was the only way to survive.

"Would you like to hold her Harry?" Hermione asked, pushing herself higher up in the bed, surprised that though she was exhausted the helpful spells and potions before delivery had alleviated much of the pain.

Draco immediately froze and cast her a stern glare, a silent warning that there were many things he would tolerate, but Potter touching his child wasn't one of them. He'd already lost enough battles for one day, with the healer ordering him out of the room at the last second. He most certainly had not been difficult, but that doddering old bugger had reminded him of the judge who had married Hermione and himself, and even though they kept saying the potions were working his wife had been in pain. Merlin, he was paying them a small fortune so their insistence that he was in the way, and to get out, was uncalled for. Then, Hermione's insisting that they name their daughter Alexandria after the city that held Cleopatra's grand library had been a long and bloody campaign that had ended in his surrender when he wasn't in his right mind. Draco had been so relieved that it was all over and their daughter was here that Hermione had taken the opportunity to exploit his weakness. However, with Potter, this was one fight he intended to win.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked warily, not missing the obvious disapproval from Draco.

"She's not going to break and you need the practice," Hermione insisted, flashing Draco a tightlipped frown and equally quelling glare.

Gingerly Harry took the pink and puckered bundle, feeling the eyes of a very angry and protective father searing into him. Adjusting the tiny little girl in his arms Harry move the blanket away from her face and lifted a hand to run a finger down her soft cheek.

"Make sure you pay attention to what you're doing," Draco snapped, promising himself that Hermione was going to hear just how unforgivable this was later.

"Settle down," Molly cooed, while Arthur who had come to her side hid a chuckled behind his hand coughing loudly. Not as timid as everyone else where Draco was concerned, Molly put a motherly arm about his shoulders. "Harry wouldn't dare drop her. Hermione wouldn't let him live to see the end of the day."

Still not completely comfortable with Molly's fondness for erratic affection Draco tried not to bunch his shoulders at the contact, but inwardly groaned when he felt her lifting the bottle from his hand. "Ronald!" Molly's voice cracked through the room angrily. "I know you're responsible for this. Did Fred and George convince you to sneak this into a hospital?"

This caused Draco to smirk briefly when Molly rounded on her youngest son and started giving him a list of reasons why she thought he was hopeless and without manners. That was one thing he appreciated and didn't take too much time to examine. Usually Molly was on his side, even going so far as to set Hermione in her place from time to time. However, when that happened Hermione rarely spoke to him until he apologized for whatever offense she considered him guilty of. Again his eyes fell on Harry holding Alexandria and he wanted to snatch the bundle from the incompetent hero's arms.

"Congratulations Mione'," Harry whispered, with a thick tone. Clearing his throat he came closer to the bed and slowly extended his hand to Draco. "Congratulations, she's beautiful and you should be very proud."

"Keep both hands on her Potter," Draco snarled, coming around the side of the bed.

Immediately retracting his hand Harry involuntarily grasped the baby more securely, but glared back at Draco for his angry outburst. "Obviously you don't take compliments well."

"He's doing fine Draco, but it is Ginny's turn," Hermione interceded, enjoying the company, but suddenly feeling a wave of drowsiness overcome her. It would be only a couple of hours before Alexandria would need to eat again and she had the urge to sleep until the next feeding.

Ginny started crying unabashedly, with Harry whispering under his breath something about hormones as she held Alexandria. Draco watched Ginny as closely as he had Potter. She was more stable than Potter, but with all of her crying and outpouring of emotion he wanted to make sure she paid attention. How Hermione could feel comfortable with anyone but Molly holding her was beyond him.

"That's enough all you," Molly said abruptly when she saw Hermione yawn and lean back unconsciously in the pillows. "Ginny you can coo at that baby later, Hermione needs her rest." A slow relieved smile turned up Draco's lips, and he could have kissed Molly for ushering the entire brood out of the room if only for a little while. "Draco, the healer mentioned about sending Hermione and the baby home tomorrow. I'll meet you both at the manor, and don't worry I'll be staying for a few days to help with Alexandria." The smile faded and he had to stifle a groan of despair. The reprieve would be short and if Molly came to stay at the manor that would mean all of the Weasley's would be crawling around the entire time. He glanced longingly at the bottle Molly had confiscated and rolled his eyes when Ron raised a mocking eyebrow resembling something similar to 'I told you so.'

Reluctantly Ginny placed the baby back in the cradle beside Hermione's bed and would have said something to her friend, but seeing she had drifted to sleep remained silent. Arthur nodded encouragingly at Draco, and Molly braved another hug, which he returned awkwardly. "We'll be back later, just Arthur and I," she promised, and before Ron could protest that he hadn't gotten to see the baby she was forcing him out the door.

Hopefully Molly would just bring Arthur with her. However, the twins hadn't been able to leave their shop yet so it was a certainty that they would be by later to chatter and prattle away nonsense. At least Longbottom had the good grace to wait until they were home and Draco readily appreciated this. The Auror had sent an owl of congratulations and that was that. He wouldn't be bothering them for a few days.

"She's really happy isn't she?" Harry asked, standing at the doorway nodding in Hermione's direction.

"I hope so," Draco whispered, trying not to wake either Hermione or Alexandria. Stupid Potter of course wanted to talk now when they needed their rest, so he walked to the door.

"I should thank you by the way," Harry said, offhandedly. "Ginny's been having her mum over to the flat everyday asking questions and decorating. It'll be a small holiday really with her at the manor fussing over Mione'."

"You're enjoying this too much Potter," Draco warned under his breath.

"Yes, I am, but you know Molly rarely accepts anyone she doesn't think is worthy." Harry's features became serious then and he brought his gaze up to meet the eyes of his longtime rival. "She won't be happy until you admit you're part of the family someday and you realize that Alexandria will call her grandma. I'm getting closer to getting used to it, you should too." Not waiting for a response Harry slipped out of the door closing it quietly behind him.

With Harry gone and Hermione dozing Draco could slump into a chair nearby and watch his wife and daughter sleep. Potter was right, Molly had been determined to make him feel welcomed and if he was honest with himself the occasional dinner here and there at The Burrow wasn't so unbearable. Potter was insufferable, Weasley still ate too much, and the twins couldn't sit still for two seconds without cracking a joke or making a sarcastic remark, but surprisingly it was comfortable.

He would always prefer his dinner at home though with Hermione and welcome any children that came after Alexandria. Frowning thoughtfully he mulled over Harry's words and wondered, would it be so terrible since there was no one else if the children he and Hermione had thought of the Weasley's as grandparents? No, it was too soon for him to feel at ease with that concept, but Potter, the damned prat was right. Molly wouldn't be happy until they all put the past behind them.

"I thought that would work," Hermione murmured sleepily, wincing slightly when she turned to lie on her side to get more comfortable.

"That was devious, but thank you," Draco sighed, when he realized her small deception. So what if it was selfish, he wanted them all to himself at the moment, no Potter or Weasley's.

"She is beautiful isn't she?" Hermione stated proudly recalling the image of the dark hair blue eyed little girl lying close to her. "You did better than I thought you would when Harry held her," Hermione yawned, and still hadn't opened her eyes.

"Testing me were you?" Draco teased, but couldn't be angry for the time being even though he had promised himself to let her know how displeased he was earlier.

"Maybe," she whispered, another yawn trailing after the single word.

"I'm letting you get away with it this time."

"Hmm," she smiled, a little but didn't really answer.

This time she really had drifted off and careful not to disturb her Draco quietly settled back comfortably in the chair. Before falling asleep he touched the small velvet box in the pocket of his robes and smiled to himself. Later when Hermione woke up and it was just Arthur and Molly he'd finally give her something she'd deserved from the beginning, a wedding ring. It had been his grandmother's and his mother had kept it for him, he came to discover, after her estate had been settled.

Absently Draco contemplated sending word to Snape that Alexandria had been born. He hadn't spoken to the former Potion's Master since that night in the manor, but it was time. When they all returned home he might see if Longbottom could make it possible for a small visit in Azkaban. It was time to ask questions and make peace with the past and only Snape could help with that. It would be years before Snape's case could be up for review and Draco couldn't wait until he was released.

Draco then wondered briefly if his mother would have been proud of what he had become, of Alexandria, but mentally shrugged. It didn't matter as much as it once had, approval from a parent. The only thing he was concerned with was the future and his was peacefully asleep in a cradle just within reach.