Wow, you guys have just been so stellar and I very much appreciate your kind words about the story. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and write a review. Sadly, this one has come to an end, however, I expect I'll write another one shot soon. I'm rereading the entire series before I go to Harry Potter World for the first time next month. :)

Without further ado...

Family for Rose

She felt like a bloody teenager sneaking around over the next few weeks before Christmas. She wouldn't let him kiss her in front of Rose, too afraid of getting the girl's hopes up of them being together. He may have all but said he was in love with her but she couldn't let go that soon. Not yet.

It was hard to hold on to that resolve though when he made special trips to her office with her favorite lunch when he knew she'd be overworking herself. Stole most of her lip gloss with his kisses before he left. He dropped suggestive remarks in front of Rose that went right over the child's head but had Hermione blushing to her roots. Stayed after Rose was in bed to snog her on the sofa.

He acted as if he couldn't get enough of her now that she'd indicated her interest.

But it wasn't just his physical affection. It was the way he looked at her. The way his eyes took in every inch of her when she entered the room, devoured her and adored her—she'd never before had anyone look at her the way he did.

He was lounging on her sofa when she returned from putting Rose to bed one Friday evening. His long legs were outstretched and propped on her coffee table, arms folded comfortably behind his head as she turned the corner and found him sitting there smirking.

"I could get used to this," he sighed and reached out to pat the cushion next to him.

It was taking time for the reality that Draco had serious feelings for her to set in. She still had trouble saying it—in love. He was in love with her, so he told her. And she had the distinct feeling she was well on her way as well and had been over the last several months as they got to know one another over their mutual parenting.

He'd grown into his role as Rose's father quite well and she really couldn't complain about it. Though she had no regrets about denying him in the past. She felt sure that he'd not been ready then. Not like this. And Rose deserved the full devotion she was getting from him now.

"You seem awfully sure of yourself," Hermione noted as she approached him and melted onto the sofa next to him, her head resting comfortably on the back of it.

Draco lifted a pale brow and turned his head against the cushions to glance at her. "And why not? I think you both quite like me here."

She snorted, eyes still closed. "I don't think I need to feed your ego any more than our daughter already does."

"Hey, I quite like that drawing of me as that muggle superhero she put on your refrigerator."

Hermione turned her head towards him and opened her eyes. "The cape is a bit much really."

Draco rolled his eyes and reached an arm out to pull her closer, satisfied when she curled into his side and closed her eyes again with a content sigh.

"You have more space here than I do at my flat," he remarked.

Hermione smirked against him but didn't bother opening her eyes. "You're trying quite hard to get yourself in here full time, aren't you?"

"Can't blame a bloke for trying."

"No, I suppose not. But it won't be happening like that."

He poked her shoulder until she lifted her head to look at him. "What do you mean?"

A light blush covered her cheeks curiously and made him even more interested in her answer.

"I've…never had a man stay…overnight," she admitted. "I've really never had a man over at all. I've really not dated. Call me old fashioned but I just don't like the idea of a man here that I'm not married to—father of my child or not."

Draco couldn't help the slight smile at her confession and leaned forward to press his mouth to hers gently.

"I haven't dated much myself over the last three years."

Hermione jerked back and eyed him incredulously. "Why ever not?"

He couldn't help but be amused by how horrified she sounded over that, fully expecting her to be relieved. That was quite a surprise.

"I mean, you weren't raising a child, Draco," she amended. "You had no reason not to date. Me…well…children aren't the best dating tactic. Besides she was my first priority."

"Which is why you've been such an incredible mother, Hermione. Though I do think you deserved to take care of yourself. I appreciate where you're coming from." He sighed, "I tried to date a few women but I honestly just could never forget about you two. Something always made me feel like I was tied to someone else."

"But you weren't," she insisted quietly.

"But I was. Still am." He brushed a few stray curls behind an ear. "And would love to be if you'd take that blasted ring out of the drawer in your desk and wear it."

Hermione's eyes widened considerably and she swallowed. "How do you know where I put it? Or that I even still have it?"

He lifted one hand between them and began counting on fingers. "Because Potter told me," he smiled when she hissed 'traitor' under her breath. He and her friend weren't great friends but the wizard had expressed great respect for him stepping into Rose's life. "And I know that you're not the type to get rid of such things."

She shook her head and huffed irritably before she bestowed a rather harsh look on him. "You know, you're quite terrible at proposing to me. Particularly when I've not even said I love you or not."

She watched as he shifted to reach into his pocket and then held the familiar black box out to her. She eyed the box nervously. She'd not looked at it in over three years yet she knew the contents all too well, the image of that ring burned into her mind. Someone had to have gone into her desk to retrieve it and she made a mental note to berate both Harry and Ron on Monday for good measure.

"Draco…" she breathed.

"When you say you're in love, I'll ask you properly," he told her.

When he began to shove it back into his pocket, she reached out, bracing herself against his chest and she wrapped her hand around his holding the box. They stared into each other's eyes then.

"I won't rush you, Hermione. Just know that the offer is there."

"When I'm ready," she asked quietly.

Draco nodded and leaned forward to kiss her gently. "When you're ready."

He left not long after that, kissing her deeply before returning to his flat via the floo.

It was late and she attempted to soak in the tub to relax the nerves he'd frayed with his open discussion of marriage. While she soaked, her concentration to read wavered and she ended up tossing the book onto a stack of towels.

With a heavy sigh, she rested her head against the back of the large tub and closed her eyes.

How did she feel about him?

She enjoyed his playful banter and familiar smirks in a way she never had before. Her heart warmed watching him become the father she never imagined her daughter would have. Enjoyed the way he took care of them both, the compulsion to do so now appearing like second nature to him.

It was nice having someone to share the responsibility with. She enjoyed him asking about her day and coming over to take over cooking dinner for her when she returned home with a grumpy child and the remnants of her work stress.

He was attentive and provided her with intelligent conversation beyond three year old concerns or her friends' interest in quidditch.

He was…quite perfect for her really.

Hermione bit her lip on a whimper when she realized it. Draco Malfoy had reappeared in her life and worked his way under skin.

"Bloody hell," she moaned to herself. "I love that incorrigible tosser."

She emerged from her bath and dried off before tying her soft robe on. She crept into her office down the hall and lit the desk lamp with a quick wandless spell. Her hands were shaking as she wrote the letter. It didn't seem fair to make him wait any longer than she had to considering how open and considerate he'd been—so unlike his younger self. Besides, now that she knew how she felt she couldn't quite contain it.

Her loyal horned owl fluttered his wings as she roused him from his nap. He nibbled gently at her fingers for a treat as she tied the letter to his leg.

Hermione stroked his feathers and gave him the treat before watching as he soared off into the black night.

She was picking out something to wear for bed when he barged into her room, clad in his plain pajama bottoms and t-shirt, her letter gripped tightly in his hands.

She turned in surprise to face him as he shut the door behind himself and approached her without a word.

"Draco, I—"

Draco cut her off when he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to her toes as he leaned down to kiss her.

She felt the roughness of the parchment near her ear as he still gripped it in one hand while he brushed damp hair away from her face.

He stole a soft moan from her throat when he caressed her tongue with his before retreating completely.

"You insufferable, witch," he growled. He was trying his best to control his desire to pounce on her when he realized that she was wearing nothing under that thin robe. "You can't very well tell me you love me in a letter and not expect to deal with me in person."

She opened her mouth to protest and was silenced with a lone finger pressed to her lips.

"Yes or no," he asked.

Hermione narrowed her eyes and fell back on her heels. She extracted herself from his embrace and crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest.

"Ask me properly."

Draco sighed and nodded. She was going to exhaust him one day.

"Will you, Hermione Granger, please allow me to be your husband? I've been a right prick to you for the better part of our acquaintance but I promise you I'll be good to you and the daughter we made together. Please end my suffering and agree to be my wife."

Hermione softened considerably then, her mouth falling open in a silent 'o'. "Well, I…"she bit her lip when he brandished the open ring box in front of her and lifted an expectant brow. "Yes," she finally nodded.

Draco breathed a sigh of relief and slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger before she could change her mind. He drew her to him and began laying wet kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

Merlin, did it feel good to be touched again like this after so long. Hermione nearly lost herself in the sensation of his lips burning a path along her sensitive skin. So lost that she almost didn't register him backing her up against the bed.

She pushed his head away from her neck to see him. "Draco, we can't…Rose…"

"Is asleep," he finished for her. "And that's what silencing charms are for. Unless you don't want to…"

The quaffle was in her court then.

Hermione bit the corner of her lip. If she were being honest she'd been thinking about it quite a bit. Her eyes had been guilty of following his every move when he wasn't looking, appreciating the strength in his shoulders and the firmness of his chest whenever she kissed him. However, she'd always been good with resisting temptation.

When he took her silence to mean no and started to retreat, she muttered 'muffliato' and leaned up to capture his mouth for herself again.

Draco growled appreciatively and gripped her waist as he hauled her onto the bed behind them. He stopped and studied the image she made. Propped on her elbows, breathing heavily, and her robe beginning to spread open to reveal the soft skin he knew she was hiding underneath—he'd never wanted a woman more.

He'd dreamed about that night they'd spent together over three years ago and wondered if she was just as wonderful as his memories suggested. Was the alcohol a factor or was Hermione Granger just that exquisite?

His hands trailed along her smooth thighs as he put both knees on the bed and leaned over her. He smirked as she gripped his shirt and pulled him down forcefully to reconnect their lips in another heavy kiss.

Her hot hands were on him anywhere they could reach and he had to pull his mouth reluctantly from hers long enough to rip his shirt off since she was tugging so insistently at it.

Hermione's eyes moved over his chest and the color in them darkened to the shade of a fine whiskey at the sight of the lean, rippling muscles he hid under his suits.

"I could get used to this," she quipped as she ran her hands over his chest and stomach.

Draco smirked and ducked his head to her neck again. He was going to worship her body and make her certain that she'd made the right choice this time.

Hermione felt his hands reaching for the tie on her robe and sucked in a breath when his fingers slipped under the folds to her bare skin underneath.

"You feel like silk," he muttered at her ear, insistent lips still making her dizzy.

Draco pushed the folds aside completely and gazed down at her body. He noted the moment she started to squirm under his gaze and her hands come up to cover her stomach and chest.

"Don't," he breathed raggedly and ducked his head to place a kiss just over her navel. "You're bloody gorgeous."

Hermione snorted inelegantly and met his eyes again. "Even with stretch marks?"

Draco's gaze narrowed on her and his eyes darted to her stomach again. Those faint lines on her pale skin bothered her? The ones he'd not even noticed until he really looked closely and even then they were hard to see, faint and nearly faded back to her normal skin tone.

"I can hardly even see what you're talking about but, yes, even with those. You might have more one day if we have another child."

"You want more," she asked quietly.

The hazy, urgent charge in the air between them had changed again and she felt now more like melting into a puddle under his intense stare and the encouraging words he was bestowing on her. At this rate she wouldn't need much foreplay, too turned on by the mature man above her saying all the things she'd always wanted to hear.

Draco dipped his head in a nod and leaned down for a soft kiss. "Maybe one more, but only if you want to as well."

"I think I'd like one more," she admitted. "But not immediately!"

He chuckled and nodded as he leaned down to continue what they'd started. "In our own time, Hermione. Now hush up and let me make love to you properly this time."

She had zero arguments to that and returned his deep kiss, sighing into it as his hands resumed their warm caresses over her heated skin.

He was like a drug, demanding and satisfying. He wasn't put off when she guided his lips to the places she liked best or his hands to more sensitive areas. He was attentive to the sounds she made and followed her guidance, eager to please.

He was hot and ready when they were both undressed, contraception charm cast this time, and couldn't contain his groan when he finally slipped inside her again. Hermione tensed for a moment and reached up to grip his shoulders. She gave him a reassuring kiss when he paused in concern.

"It's just been a while. Go slow." She bit her lip as she stared into his grey eyes, so intense and warm. "You feel good, Draco."

The blonde groaned at that, terribly turned on by her admission. He swore then and there to make this perfect for her.

He smirked when her eyes rolled back as he pulled back and thrust back in slowly. He dipped his head near her ear and whispered. "I want to marry you before Christmas, Hermione." She gasped and he wasn't sure if it was because of what he'd said or the way he'd shifted his hips against her. "I want to wake up with you Christmas morning and spend it with my wife and daughter."

"Oh God," she breathed under him, "I don't…know how you're talking…during this…but…YES," she shouted the last bit when his hand reached between their bodies to add to her sensation.

Draco managed to smile against her as he began adding wet kisses along her neck, pleased when her fingers started digging into his shoulders with every push of his hips.

With the last bits of his will power, he managed to bring her over the edge first before he followed along right behind her, nearly collapsing on top her.

"That was…" She shook her head against the pillow, "even better than before."

Draco lifted his head to meet her eyes that were finally beginning to focus again. "You remember it, too?"

Hermione cringed but nodded. "Annoyingly so. Though I try not to remember the morning after."

It was his turn to cringe then but hid it as he rolled off her, pulling her to rest against his shoulder. He wasn't near done touching her and needed to feel her pressed against him still. "Never again. I swear on my damned wand, Hermione."

"I know," she sighed contentedly when his hand began a gentle rhythm stroking a path up and down her spine.

Draco woke first the next morning. Slightly disoriented for a moment until he realized the warm body he was spooning was Hermione. Memories of the night before flashed through his mind and he smirked to himself when he remembered their second time that night and how she'd taken control from him. She'd been insatiable and everything he'd ever dreamed of all wrapped up in one small witch.

Enough with the chase, enough with the tip toeing around. She'd said yes to getting married prior to Christmas, even if it was in the heat of the moment, and he intended to take her at her word.

He'd have a family by Christmas.

He stayed in bed as long as he could manage, watching her sleep and enjoying finally having the opportunity to study all of her quirks. The few freckles that dotted her shoulders were oddly entrancing, the soft sigh she released when he pressed his chest closer to her back, even the bloody curls threating to suffocate him—she was beyond complex and she wasn't even awake and speaking yet. He was beyond himself with adoration and didn't care one whit.

However, good sense finally convinced him that he needed to get up as Rose would likely be up soon. He'd allow Hermione to sleep and take on breakfast duties for himself. The first of many mornings he hoped to do so. Her life was about to get so much better now that she'd let him in.

Draco managed to creep out of bed and grab a quick shower without disturbing her. He couldn't help himself from appreciating her floral scented soap that he used. Perhaps he was a bit mental for wanting to make the jump into marriage so quickly, but he wanted so badly to be a part of both of their everyday lives.

After his shower which left him smelling much like her after using her soap, it was horrendously difficult not to allow the thought of her warm body to draw him back into bed but he managed to make it downstairs without succumbing to it.

Knowing his way around her kitchen quite well after these last months, he decided on taking the easy route and making waffles. Rose would love them and the mess would be minimal. Batter mixed and poured in the heated waffle iron, he didn't notice the sound of the floo until Harry and Ginny were standing right in front of him.

Harry squinted at him curiously. He'd never seen the blonde wizard in such a state before—pajamas and his short, damp hair sticking out at odd angles as it dried, almost as if he'd just run a towel over it. It was very…un-Malfoy-like.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here so early?"

Draco smirked at him and flipped the waffle maker's handle over. He'd become quite adept at using her muggle appliances.

"Celebrating," he responded smugly.

At that moment, Hermione came down the stairs, the robe from the night before back on and rubbing at her eyes tiredly.

"Bloody exhausting man," she mumbled as she stumbled into the kitchen, oblivious to the other three people there.

Ginny nudged Harry hard when she caught the sparkle of the large diamond on her left hand and rolled her eyes at him when he flinched from her sharp elbow.

"And the dry spell ends," she teased as Hermione dug through the refrigerator, her back to them. "It's about time someone shagged her brains out."

Draco snorted at the joke, not bothering to check Hermione's expression.

The witch whirled around quickly, eyes wide now as she noticed everyone there for the first time. "Good Godric, announce yourselves why don't you?"

"So you finally did it then," Harry asked him, his eyes darting pointedly to her left hand.

"It's about time after she's been leading me on for so long," he teased.

Hermione sputtered as she stared between the three of them. "I—I have not led you on you…you…"

"Adorable, lovely man," he supplied with a mischievous grin.

"Tosser!"

Draco shrugged and removed the waffle before pouring the batter for another. "Whatever strikes your fancy, love. Just remember that you said yes so I'm your tosser now."

Hermione groaned miserably and ran her hands over her face. "What in Merlin's name have I agreed to?"

"A lifetime of what you got last night," he smirked.

Ginny snorted and smacked her hand on the kitchen counter as she hid her face in Harry's shoulder to control her laughter. Harry looked a bit ill at the idea of just what had taken place and shook his head.

Hermione glared at him and turned to leave. "I'm going to change and get Rose up. Perhaps the three of you could be adults again by the time I've returned."

"No promises," Harry quipped.

"What are you two doing here anyway," Draco asked once she was gone.

"Rose finally broke Hermione down last week on getting a kneazle and Harry and I promised to get her one for Christmas if she could get her mother to agree. We're supposed to take her to Diagon Alley for the day." She grinned mischievously, "Which means you get Hermione all to yourself."

Draco pointed the fork in his hand at Harry and grinned. "I like the way your wife thinks, Potter."

Hermione returned with Rose in tow who quickly jumped into Draco's arms. She watched as he took a plate with a waffle and left for the dining room where he seated the girl in his lap to eat her breakfast.

"Quite the change," Harry noted as he peeked around the corner as well and observed them together.

Hermione sighed, a small smile ghosting her lips. "He's been lovely, Harry."

"All jokes aside, I'd assume you're quite taken with him now," Ginny asked. "You know we have to know. We're just looking out for you."

She laughed and nodded, tearing a piece of a chocolate chip waffle off and chewing quickly. "I don't know how the git did it but I realized I'd been falling in love with him for some time now. Everything feels better when he's here. I know it seems sudden but I quite like the idea of Rose having us together for Christmas."

Harry snorted and reached up to adjust his glasses. "Ron's going to love this. Spending the holidays with Malfoy should be quite a treat."

"I wouldn't have agreed to marry him if he hadn't changed, Harry. I doubt he'll spend his time antagonizing Ron like he used to."

"Now I'll believe that when I see it," Ginny laughed in agreement.

Hermione bit her lip as she reconsidered it and finally rolled her eyes. "Okay, so maybe not that much of him has changed."

Harry and Ginny took Rose to Diagon Alley as planned after she finished her breakfast, leaving her parents alone again.

Hermione recognized the lustful look in his eyes this time and shook her head at the wizard looming over her in the living room. She pointed sternly at him. "I don't think so, Draco. You've had me twice in less than twenty-four hours," she reminded him with a slight blush. "Were you serious about being married by Christmas?"

Draco's focus returned and he reached for the hand now wearing his ring. He pressed a soft kiss on the knuckles just above the accessory. "Very serious."

She nodded and drew a deep breath. Was she ready for that change?

Her mind argued that the only difference would be waking up to him every morning as he spent most of his free time there with her and Rose anyway. And the sex. That was certainly new.

The latter thought caused her blush to deepen and she averted her eyes from his. Draco noticed but stopped himself from asking just yet.

"Okay," she breathed, "But that means we have a busy day ahead of us while Harry and Ginny have Rose."

His brow furrowed in thought and he stepped closer to her, forgetting that he was still in his pajamas from the night before while she was already dressed for the day.

"Hermione, if I'm rushing you—"

"You're not," she smiled up at him and lifted on her toes to kiss his cheek. "I know what I want now. I'm positive. I do have a request though."

He brushed some curls behind her ear, enjoying the feel of the soft strands in his fingers. "Anything at all and it's yours. I'll sell the damn Manor out from under my father's own bigoted ass if you ask me to."

She laughed at his joke and the smile that it caused. "I don't think that will be necessary. I'm fairly certain he's much less of a nuisance to the world locked up there than he would be if you relocated him."

Her request had been easy to grant though it had surprised him. She agreed to getting married quickly but requested a small ceremony with only a handful of friends, his mother, and her parents. She had no desire to prance down the aisle and assured him repeatedly that she was being genuine.

And thus began the whirlwind of the next two weeks of their lives. Draco slept very little and, to his complete annoyance, wasn't allowed back in her—soon to be their—bedroom until after the ceremony.

Rose was thrilled when they finally told her. The poor thing bounced around the house that evening so excitedly that she fell asleep well before her bedtime.

He met her parents first over dinner and stood up surprisingly well to her father's intense line of questions. They both gave their blessing privately to Hermione after seeing him with Rose, neither able to deny the love in his eyes for the girl or his intense adoration for their daughter.

It was Draco who bought off the Prophet this time when reporters began snooping around them too closely. He even went so far as to bribe Pansy with a side job with his marketing team in exchange for keeping a continued eye out for anyone who might be thinking of writing about them, telling her, "I'm one thing but Hermione and Rose are strictly off limits."

Less than twenty people were assembled in one of the smaller Malfoy gardens a week before Christmas, sans Lucius who hadn't been invited and seemed quite content to drink himself into a stupor in his upstairs office.

Draco held their daughter on one hip as he held Hermione's hand in his, swearing to love and honor her and only her as long as he lived. He swore that he saw his father peeking out of one of the windows of the Manor facing the garden before he leaned down to seal their marriage with a kiss. His mind went elsewhere though when he kissed his wife for the first time.

They danced with their daughter between them, her exuberant grin keeping everyone entertained. Draco watched with veiled amusement as both his mother and Hermione's attempted to keep the girl from getting herself covered in icing from the cake.

"At least our mothers get along," he offered with a smirk.

Hermione shook her head, a look of awe still on her face as she watched the two women dote on the girl who seemed far more content to focus on the cake in front of her. She did have a rather terrible sweet tooth that Hermione was now convinced she'd inherited from Draco. She'd never been that weak with sweets.

"I'd have never believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes."

"Where's she staying tonight," he asked as he dipped one finger into his wife's cake, licking the icing clean.

Hermione blushed as she thought of the night of ahead of them. If his constant teasing and innuendos over the last two weeks told her anything, it was going to be a long night for her. The dark look to his grey eyes now had her biting her lip.

"Harry and Ginny fought with my mother for the honor. They wanted to take her to see some Christmas lights in muggle London later."

Congratulations received from their guests, Draco decided he'd had enough and was ready to take his wife away for the night. They'd decided to forego the idea of a honeymoon until after the holidays, neither liking the idea of not being with their daughter for Christmas.

Draco watched, fighting the urge to laugh, as Hermione worried over Rose.

"I packed your favorite hat and scarf," Hermione assured the girl as she squatted carefully in her dress.

Draco rolled his eyes skyward for a moment before meeting Ginny's eyes as they waited for the two to finish.

"Is she always like this when she spends the night away from home," he asked.

Ginny snorted and laughed quietly. "Every single time. And Rose does just fine. In fact, Harry mentioned a trip for ice cream after the lights and it's all she's been talking about since."

"Are you two talking about me," Hermione questioned as she stood up straight, having kissed Rose on the forehead and hugged the breath out of the girl.

Draco held a hand over his heart mockingly. "I'm insulted. I'd never."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. "Less than two hours into this marriage, I can still change my mind, Malfoy."

He narrowed his eyes at her reverting to his surname, one she now shared after she agreed to hyphenate her own and Rose's.

"I think I'll take you home and remind you just why you agreed to marry me," he grinned rather lasciviously.

With that, Draco hugged his daughter and felt content when she skipped off with Ginny and Harry.

Hermione turned to him with an expectant look, a stern eyebrow lifted high.

"Well," she asked. When he just stared questioningly, she lifted on her toes and whispered in his ear. "I thought you were taking me home to remind why I agreed to marry you."

He was smirking triumphantly when she pulled back to face him and took her hand in his. They took the floo back to their home they now would share and Draco was quite shocked but pleased when his new wife took control first.

Hermione had rarely had time for herself over the last three years and fully intended to enjoy her time alone with Draco. She could now clearly feel the way he succumbed to her the moment their lips met. Flashes of their first time together raced through her mind and she found that he was just the same—warm, generous, and entirely focused on her without the influence of alcohol to quell his pride.

Draco was rather intent that they take their time. The past forgiven, he still felt he owed his wife so much more. She'd given him his first child after all. She'd stared into the eyes that mirrored his own for three years without him.

Hermione's heart nearly couldn't handle the sincerity in how his hands skimmed her body so reverently. Couldn't contain the warmth that spread through her limbs as his lips worshipped her, kissing her just as she wanted, and whispering promises at her ear of what their future would hold together.

This night was just a start. A start of what she'd deserved and been deprived of by his foolish pride and fear of rejection.

It was many hours later when she lay on his chest trying to catch her breath. Sprawled over him, legs still straddling him where she'd collapsed after the last round of making love, she sighed contentedly when she felt his lips press against her forehead before he pulled her even closer.

"At the risk of inflating your ego worse, you're really good at that," she admitted in a breathy whisper.

Draco chuckled and ran a hand over her back soothingly. "I used to replay that night in my head sometimes. Despite the alcohol, I'd never had sex that good. You just felt right. Still do."

"Hmm, so do you," she agreed sleepily. "I'm going to sleep for a bit but I'm not done with you."

He grinned to himself and closed his eyes. "Brilliant witch."

Hermione woke the next morning to the smell of hot chocolate chip waffles wafting in her room. Slightly disoriented from the long, eventful night, she pushed herself up in bed in time to catch Draco levitating a tray laden with breakfast food as he entered the room.

He frowned when she pulled the covers up over her chest but flicked his wand to unfold the legs of the tray and ease it down.

"How long have you been up," she asked, her voice still raspy with sleep.

Draco cupped the back of her head first as he leaned over her and kissed her squarely on the mouth. "About an hour. You looked tired."

His smirk was a sight to be seen as if mentally patting himself on the back for exhausting her so.

"Git," she muttered, smacking his hands away when he sat next to her and attempted to pull the covers away again.

"Your git," he reminded her silkily.

"Hmm," she hummed around a bite of waffle as she eyed him closely. "And all because I'm a lightweight with alcohol and allowed you to seduce me three years ago."

Her dark eyes softened when he lifted her free hand to press his lips to the back of it. "I'd have seduced you sober if I'd have hated myself any less or thought you'd be receptive. I'm no longer complaining about it though, Hermione."

She swallowed against the emotional lump in her throat and leaned forward to kiss him gently. "Me either." She eyed the food in front of her and sighed. "Though I'm feeling rather lazy considering you've been up long enough to shower and make me breakfast. I can't honestly remember the last time I slept late."

"Better get used to it, Hermione." His smirk returned then and his eyes roved over her form suggestively. "Eat your breakfast and maybe I'll have another shower. With company."

And so it went.

Their time alone together was short as Harry and Ginny returned with Rose that evening in time for dinner. Her new pet kneazle made herself at home when she hissed at Draco and darted right up the stairs and under Rose's bed.

However, Rose had been unbothered. She raced right into her parents' arms, taking turns with hugs and kisses now that they were both available at once to do so.

Hermione gave Draco a watery smile when the girl exclaimed how happy she was to have them together before she hurried to wash up before dinner.

They tucked her in together for the first time that night. Hermione held Rose against her chest on the bed while Draco read a new bedtime story. She was out cold by the time he finished the story and then helped Hermione to settle her amongst the pillows.

"She's bloody perfect," he whispered as they retreated out of the room, stealing one last glimpse at the product of their combined genes.

It was raining a bit by the time they both settled into bed. Hermione sighed as she settled in against his side, one leg thrown over his and her head comfortably settled on his shoulder. It felt oddly natural to be with him like this.

"Not too heavy, am I," she asked sleepily.

Draco snorted, and opened his eyes to make out her form in the darkness of their bedroom. He could make out her features with the bit of moonlight. "You weigh next to nothing," he assured her and squeezed her closer with the arm wrapped around her.

He nearly couldn't believe this was real and he finally had what he'd been pining for all this time.

The rain continued to patter against the window and a loud boom of thunder rolled as lightning struck brightly.

"Mummy," Rose called from behind the bedroom door.

Hermione picked her head up quickly and then glanced to where Draco's eyes would be in the dark. "She's afraid of thunder," she whispered. "I forgot to tell you. I usually let her sleep with me."

Draco sighed comfortably, "Come in, Rose," he called out.

The door creaked open and the girl padded into the room quietly. She peeked over the foot of the bed cautiously.

"Mummy, can I still sleep with you?"

Hermione glanced back at Draco and smiled when he nodded without hesitation. How could they deny that?

"Of course, honey."

"Come on, Rose," Draco told her and held out his free arm. "Your mum can have one arm and you can have the other."

The girl quickly climbed up and crawled over the covers, her kneazle trailing into the room behind her and hopping into Hermione's reading chair. Hermione reached over and helped her climb under the comforter and pulled it up over her shoulders before Draco wrapped his arm around her protectively.

Draco watched in the dim light of the room as Hermione worried over the girl before settling in herself again. She reached over and ran her hand through the girl's hair, moving the curls out of her face as she snuggled closer.

"Rub her back a little," she whispered to him as she settled again. "It helps her calm down and sleep."

He nodded and did as she told him, feeling the moment when Rose began to go limp against him with sleep. He pressed a kiss to the top of Hermione's head and gave her a gentle squeeze.

The family of three all fell asleep soon enough, thunder and rain still rolling in. One small but, finally, happy family.

One Year Later

"Not too high, Draco." Hermione worried her lower lip as she cradled her swollen stomach with one hand. Three more months, she kept telling herself.

"Stop your blubbering, Hermione. She's just fine. Aren't you, sweetheart?"

Rose grinned from atop her new broom, the one Hermione had begged him not to buy her until she was older. Four years old just wasn't the proper age to be flying about on a wooden stick, she'd argued. Of course, he'd argued that he'd been on one by the time he was two.

It wasn't the first of their disagreements about the differences in their own upbringing and how to apply it to their daughter and it likely wouldn't be the last. He'd won this one in the end after he promised to buy the beginner model and swore it wouldn't allow her to fly higher than five feet.

"That's bloody well six feet," Hermione grumbled as she watched Rose rise above the Manor gardens. His mother hadn't minded one bit when he'd asked if they could come over for Rose to try out her Christmas gift. They couldn't take the risk of her flying in their muggle neighborhood.

Rose soared across the garden much to Draco's delight and Hermione stepped up to his side, backhanding his stomach hard.

"Blimey, Hermione," he groaned, rubbing a hand over the sore spot. She'd always been rather rough.

"If you break our first child, I will maim you, Draco Malfoy."

Draco wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her close to his side. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Is the baby tiring you out, love?"

She did tend to get a bit crankier than usual lately. A good nap and cup of hot cocoa seemed to soothe her. Her doting husband helped as well. He was always quite attentive and generous with his attention for her but it had increased exponentially since she'd found out she was pregnant again.

This pregnancy was definitely different from her last. She felt a bit guilty with the way he jumped whenever she asked for something. She knew he still felt a bit guilty for not being there for her the first time and was doing everything possible to make up for it. Her hormones were worse than the last time. However, at least now she could have sex. Merlin, did he take care of those needs!

"She's fine," she grumbled, wishing to hold onto her irritation with him a bit longer but losing the motivation with the way he was rubbing a hand over her shoulder.

Soon Draco would have another daughter. When Hermione's healer had told them the gender, she'd had to fight not to laugh herself silly with the way his eyes had gone so wide. He was already outnumbered as it was. He'd been so sure it was a boy. However, it seemed the boy would be going to the Potters as Ginny was due near the same time with their first child.

"I'll let Rose fly a few more minutes and then we can go home for a bit to let you nap before we join your parents for Christmas dinner," he assured her.

"Your father was rather civil over breakfast," she noted calmly though her eyes were following their daughter's every move intently. The girl was a natural on a broom and she surely didn't get it from her mother.

"He was," Draco grinned evilly. "It might have something to do with my mother pouring out his best brandy and threatening to hex his bullocks if he didn't act like a grandfather should."

"She didn't!"

He glanced down at her with a grin. "Oh, she's quite spiteful like you when she doesn't get her way."

She huffed irritably. "I am not spiteful!"

"You kept Skeeter in a jar for most of our fourth year, Hermione. I think you have the tendency."

She glared at him but she didn't argue. Perhaps he had a point but she wasn't about to openly agree with him.

Rose soared towards them again and ended up needing Draco's help to land the broom which caused Hermione a fit as she was sure she'd topple to the ground in the process.

"Come on, Rose. Time to go home," Draco smiled as he slung the broom over his shoulder. "Your mum's tired and we've still got dinner with your gran and gramps later."

"Yes," Hermione smiled, "Let's go home."