A/N: Quite a dramatic chapter previously… thanks for the reviews!

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot.

Chapter Nineteen

"I-I can't ask it of you," said Draco pulling away from his mother and shaking his head.

"Take me to her," demanded Narcissa, "Now."

"They won't let me take you anywhere near her. You nearly killed Hermione… heck, you near broke her arm!"

Narcissa looked at Draco sternly and he finally noticed that the mother he'd known years ago was looking at him with fiery determination in her eyes.

"You are a Malfoy. Everybody listens to a Malfoy."
Draco nodded and hooked his arm through his mother's and led her out of the ward. One stern look at a guard kept him at bay as they walked towards the elevator.

"Where are you going?" demanded a healer.

Draco looked at the man coldly, "I am spending time with my mother. Is it not what you all wanted of me?"

The healer cleared his throat, "Well yes… but… err, not for too long."

Draco made no response and stepped into the elevator as its doors opened with his mother. The ride was silent with Draco trying to keep himself in a calm state. He wanted nothing more than to hold Hermione in his arms and never let her go. Draco gave a start as his felt his mother touch his shoulder gently.

"Everything will be okay," said Narcissa reassuringly.

Draco didn't reply and swallowed a lump in his throat as the elevator came to a stop and the doors sprang open. Gripping his mother by her hand, Draco hurried out of the elevator and towards the ward Hermione was in.

Draco ran in and released his mother's hand as a pale Hermione looked at him from the bed. She smiled weakly at him and held out a hand towards him.

"You came back," whispered Hermione as Draco clasped her hand between his own.

"Of course I did. I'm never leaving you," replied Draco as he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in close to press a kiss to her lips.

Up close he could see her skin was coated in a sheen of sweat.

"You have to say goodbye," whispered Hermione as she struggled to take a deep breath, "Promise me something."

"Anything," replied Draco looking at Hermione with desperate, love filled eyes.

"P-promise me you will f-find happiness again… love again."

"I… Hermione I won't love anyone again… not like I love you."

Narcissa had to swallow a lump in her throat as she saw tears trickle down Draco's face as he looked at Hermione. She could read the despair on his face and could literally see his heart breaking into a million pieces.

Narcissa hated it. She hated seeing how broken her son was, and how he was at a loss of how to make his wife live.

His wife. Narcissa's son was a grown man. Married, with three children that he would have to raise on his own. His wife and from what she could plainly see, the love of life, would be dead.

"What can I do?" whispered Narcissa helplessly as Draco laid on the bed beside Hermione to hold her close, "What do I do to stop this?"

Narcissa walked out of the ward and sat in the outside the ward and closed her eyes as tears trickled down her cheeks.

Narcissa stood beside a tree as she watched a younger version of her son run across the grass chasing the brunette woman who was laughing madly. She couldn't help but chuckle as Draco caught the woman – Hermione it appeared to be – and spun her around before both toppled to the ground in a laughing heap.

"You are evil," said Hermione with a laugh as she rolled over to be peering down at a grinning Draco, "You're lucky I love you."

"You love me?" asked Draco in surprise.

Hermione grinned and kissed him softly on the lips, "Yes. I love you."

"I love you too."

Narcissa blinked in surprise as she watched her son pacing outside a jewellers. Suddenly he was joined by two young men who looked at him in amusement.

"Never thought I'd see the day where you were so nervous," commented one.

"Shut up Trey. I need to pick the perfect ring," retorted Draco.

"Alright, chill man, we will."

"You don't understand. It has to be absolutely perfect. I… I have never loved anyone as much as I love Hermione… I feel stupid for wasting the years before not really knowing her or being with her. She is everything to me."

Narcissa smiled as she saw the passion ignite in Draco's eyes. The witch truly was everything to him.

Narcissa gripped the chair before her as the scene came into view.

Her son was dressed handsomely and Hermione wore a lovely white dress.

"Well that was a different wedding," commented a red haired witch.

"It was perfect," replied Hermione as she smiled at Draco.

"Here we go my darlings!" cried a woman bringing out a large cake, "Just like you ordered – and it's on the house. My gift to you both."

Hermione and Draco both stood and held onto a silver knife.

"To Mr and Mrs Malfoy!" roared the one called Trey as he held up a mug of coffee.

"To Mr and Mrs Malfoy!" chanted the rest of the group as the newly-weds cut into their cake and shared a sweet kiss.

"I can't lose him."

The scene cleared again and Narcissa found herself at St Mungo's standing beside her unconscious son as a distraught Hermione looked down at him worriedly.

"The Healer's said he should be fine."

"Jena he hasn't woken and it's been hours!"

The one named Jena stood beside Hermione and rubbed her back gently. Hermione gripped Draco's hand tightly and looked at him as if she were begging for him to wake up.

Once again the scene changed and she found herself in an apartment. Hermione came out of the hallway with a tearstained face. She walked over to the kitchen area and poured herself a glass of orange juice, though she longingly looked at a bottle of wine sitting on a high shelf.

"Congratulations," she muttered to herself as she raised the glass, "You're pregnant and your husband doesn't even remember marrying you."

Narcissa felt a sharp stab of guilt as she saw the distraught look cross Hermione's expression. She expected Hermione to start sobbing into her drink but the young woman took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She instead looked at the wedding band on her finger and traced her finger over it.

"You'll be home with me soon. I promise."

Narcissa had to sit down this time as the scene changed to that of another house. She smiled as her son walked into the living room holding two toddlers in his arms.

"Here look," said Draco kneeling down to the ground and placing his son on the ground beside a low crate of toys, "Let's make some music."

Sitting his daughter next to her brother, Draco laughed happily as he played with the children using the variety of musical toys.

"Merlin, you are wonderful."

Both Narcissa and Draco looked up as Hermione appeared dressed in what Narcissa assumed were clothes she wore to work.

"Hey babe," greeted Draco hopping up to kiss her, "I left work early so I picked these two up from care early. Iris has been a bit cranky today according to what Miss Cindy said."

Hermione looked at Iris curiously, "She is probably teething again. Leo just got molars through."

Draco nodded and kissed Hermione again, "I missed you today."

Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest, "I missed you too."

"Have you seen enough?"

Narcissa spun around to see a woman with long brown hair, "Who are you?"

"An ancestor of Hermione's. She is marked for death thanks to your husband and sister."

Narcissa looked down at the ground shamefully, "She is good for Draco… he is completely in love with her."

"True love at it most pure. Two people who seem so opposite, yet complete each other in every way possible."

"If she dies it will destroy Draco… he won't cope and the children will suffer."

"You can save her."

Narcissa looked at the woman with wide eyes, "I can? How?"

"How much do you love your son?"

"I haven't shown it in so long… but I love Draco with my whole heart. He is the best thing I have ever brought into this world."

"Would you give your life for him?"

"In a heartbeat."

The woman stepped forward and took a hold of Narcissa's hand. Narcissa looked at her with wide eyes.

"Then say it."

"I give my life to let Hermione live… as a gift to my son."

Draco didn't know when he fell asleep, only that when he woke it was quiet. He sat up with a start upon realising Hermione wasn't beside him. Frantically, he climbed out of the bed and raced out of the ward. He looked around wildly and spotted a Nurse at the counter doing some filing.

"My wife! Hermione Malfoy! Where is she?" demanded Draco.

"Err," said the Nurse before Draco growled in annoyance and ran along the corridor.

Panic was building up in his chest as he went up another corridor and then another. He didn't know what he would do if she were dead. He knew only of life with her and that was all he wanted to know. He didn't want to imagine it any other way.

Draco shoved open a heavy door as he headed into another corridor and came to a stop. She turned and looked at him with a gentle smile and then looked back at the window her hand was pressed against. He walked towards her and stood beside her, breathing in her vanilla scent.

"H-how?" whispered Draco.

Hermione turned and looked at him, "I don't know."

Without another moment's hesitation, Draco enveloped Hermione into his arms and kissed her passionately. Hermione gripped onto him tightly before pulling away, feeling rather breathless. She turned towards the window and smiled.

"Isn't he beautiful?"

Little Phoenix laid in his crib sleeping, wrapped in a blue and yellow stripped blanket.

"He has your features," said Draco softly, "I'm surprised you didn't have a second one hiding in there."

Hermione laughed and elbowed Draco in the sides, "Not this time."

"You want more?"

Hermione shrugged, "We'll see how three go for now, okay?"

"Mr Malfoy."

Draco turned from Hermione smiling to see a Healer looking at him seriously, "Yes?"

"My name is Healer Garry Elmsford. I was treating your mother in the Mental-"

"Wait," cut in Hermione, "You said 'was'? What do you mean by that?"

Garry sighed and glanced down at the ground before looking up to speak again, "We went to check on Narcissa… to find her dead. She had a wound in her abdomen and it caused her to bleed out."

Draco looked at Hermione in surprise and she looked at him wide eyed.

"I am so sorry for your loss," said Garry before turning to leave.

"I… I went to ask her but I couldn't," said Draco as he paced about, "She came with me to the ward… I forgot she was there when I was with you… I don't… I mean… Merlin."

Hermione didn't know what to think or feel. Narcissa Malfoy, the woman who had been hell bent on destroying her and Draco's marriage, had sacrificed her life so Hermione could live.

"She did it for you," said Hermione quietly to Draco, "Because she loved you."

Draco stopped pacing and looked at Hermione who was looking back at him with wide brown eyes.

"Because she knew I wouldn't live without you," said Draco.

Hermione managed a small smile before Draco pulled her into his arms.

"I'm never letting you leave me again."

"I'm not going anywhere," replied Hermione.

Six Years Later

"Why are you still here?"

Hermione looked up from the paper work before her to see Jena looking at her curiously, "I was just finishing up with the Mulder case. Why?"

"Hermione, look at the time."

Hermione looked at the clock above the doorway and gasped. It was nearly six o'clock. That night there was a big dinner at Harry and Ginny's with Leo, Iris and James heading off to Hogwarts for their first year the very next day.

"Crap!" cried Hermione standing up and grabbing her cloak, "Are you and Trey coming? I know Taylor and Seb will be there."

"We are," smiled Jena, "Juliet insists on being able to play with Phoenix."

Hermione chuckled, "Young love. Alright, well I will see you there."

Hermione quickly dashed out the door silently cursing herself for running late. She knew Draco would understand as the Mulder case had been a huge one, which Harry had personally wanted her to take on as the prosecution. Entering the elevator, Hermione impatiently waited for the elevator to reach the atrium level so she could reach the apparition zone.

"Is Mummy home yet?"

"She won't be long," replied Draco with a glance to his watch as he rolled fixed up the sleeve of his shirt.

"Okay. Then she can fix my hair?"

Draco looked at his youngest daughter of four years, Daisy, and smiled. She had been a surprise like Phoenix, but had made the family feel complete.

"Yes, Mummy will fix your-"

"I'm home! I am so sorry!" came Hermione's frazzled voice as she came running up the stairs.

"Mummy!" cried Daisy as she ran to her mother and hugged her around the middle, "I missed you!"

Hermione smiled and leaned down to kiss Daisy on the forehead, "Hello sweetie. Go get your yellow cardigan. It's a bit chilly out."

Daisy ran over to her bedroom and Hermione went into hers and Draco. She greeted Draco with a kiss and quickly changed into her dark blue jeans and a grey long sleeved shirt, pulling on a maroon cardigan followed by her boots.

"Are Iris and Leo ready? What about Phoenix?" asked Hermione looking over at Draco who was smiling at her lovingly, "What? Is there something on my face?"

"You are amazing."

"What?"

Draco walked over to Hermione and gently caressed her cheek, "I said, you are amazing."

"I came home late. That's not amazing, that is bad on my part."

"Hermione you are entitled to a late home coming every now and then. I know what you're handling is a massive case… but you amaze me at how you balance work and home life. You are always there for our children and for me whenever we need you."

Hermione felt a blush creep over her cheeks, "Merlin Draco… all these years and you still make me blush like we've just started dating."

Draco chuckled and leaned in close to whisper in her ear, "I'm pretty sure we are just as wild in bed as we were back then as well."

Hermione gripped onto the collar of his shirt as his warm breath sent shivers down her spine.

"Oh gross. Mum and Dad are being all smoochie."

Hermione and Draco stepped apart chuckling at the mortified look on Leo's face. He held a regal like pose, much like his father had at his age, yet his expression matched that of one of Hermione's.

"Leo, tuck your shirt in," said Hermione, "And get a coat."

Leo groaned and went off to his bedroom. Hermione looked over at Draco and winked at him before heading to Iris' bedroom.

When she entered her curly haired daughter as glancing between a blue headband and a green ribbon.

"Hey Mum," said Iris with a glance over her shoulder, "I don't know what to do with my hair."

"What about this?" said Hermione selecting a bobby pin and pinning Iris' long fringe back.

Iris smiled, "Thanks… Mum… when did you first like a boy?"

"Not when I was eleven… but when I was twelve I liked someone."

"Was it Dad?"

"Heavens no! Your father and I… well, let's just say your father and I were from two different worlds. Why do you ask?"

Iris' cheeks flushed pink and she looked down at her hands, "I think I like someone."

"Who?"

Iris shook her head, "I don't want to say."

Hermione smiled gently at her embarrassed daughter, "Well when you are ready, you let me know, okay?"

Iris nodded and Hermione left her room and headed to Phoenix's room. There she found her youngest son pulling on a pair of socks.

He looked up at Hermione and grinned at her with his brown eyes as his brown hair fell in front of his eyes. Hermione sat on the ground before him and helped Phoenix slip his shoes on.

"I think we will get you a haircut tomorrow," said Hermione as she brushed his fringe from his eyes.

"It's annoying," said Phoenix in regards to his hair, "I tried to cut it today but Dad said you would get mad."

"That's right. You might have cut yourself instead."

"I was going to be careful Mum. I'm not silly."

Hermione couldn't help but smile, "Yes well, let's not tempt fate."

At that moment Daisy skipped into the room, her blonde curls bouncing. She sat in front of Hermione and handed her a brush and hair bands.

Quickly, but neatly, Hermione brushed and parted Daisy's hair into two pig tails.

"Right," came Draco's voice from the hallway, "Are we ready to go?"

The happy chatter around Hermione made her glow with happiness. Taylor and Sebastian were talking happily with Ron and his wife, Lexi. Ron was holding his one year old son, Thomas, whilst their three year old daughter, Bonnie, played happily with Daisy. Taylor was three months away from giving birth to her and Sebastian's first child.

Harry and Draco were standing by the barbeque discussing the latest Quidditch news, drinking a butterbeer each. Hermione was pleased to see them getting along, and the two had grown to be firm friends over the years. Pansy and Blaise were sitting with Ginny, Jena and Trey conversing about the latest bits of gossip and news. Looking over at the yard, Hermione watched in amusement as her children all engaged in a game of tag with Harry and Ginny's kids, Pansy and Blaise's, Jena and Trey's and Ron and Lexi's.

"Everything okay?"

Hermione looked beside her and smiled at Draco, leaning against him and wrapping her arms around his torso, "Everything is perfect."

"Is that so?"

"Mmm hmm. I never thought I would live to see this. I have your mother to thank for that."

"We have love to thank for that," replied Draco, "Love brought us together and love has kept us together."

Hermione looked up at Draco, "And it will keep us together. Always."

Draco pressed a kiss to Hermione's lips and smiled, "Always."

The End.

A/N: That's it! I really hope you all enjoyed this story. I loved writing it… thank you for the reviews!