dragonofgrey | Holidays in Wiltshire

Holidays in Wiltshire

"Careful there," Draco said, helping his wife, Mia, along. He glanced over at his mother-in-law, Lemia, to make sure she was all right as well as they approached the front gate of the Malfoy Manor. Already there was the familiar screech of the white peacocks strutting around, much of the place now back to how it was prior to the war.

Closer to the gate, and upon recognizing Draco's magical signature, the metal gate swung openly easily. The traps and hexes dissipating for the time being.

"It's just up the walk here."

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"Is that so?" A small surprised and yet pleased smile crept up the older witch's face.

"How very reassuring."

A distant crack.

"Ah that must be your father. Excuse me." She then stepped away to go greet Lucius leaving Draco to hold and pat Mia's hand.

Mia laced her fingers together with Draco's.

"So far so good," she says.

"It's silly to worry," Lemia says. "Parents are always happy when they learn they're going to be grandparents."

"We know," Mia murmurs. "Draco just wants his parents happy with him. He's always like that about the people he loves."

"So I've noticed," the former Guildmaster says with a smile. "And I'm glad he makes you happy."

Lemia reaches over and gives Mia a kiss on her forehead and Draco a gentle squeeze on his shoulder.

"I want them to be accepting, and Father especially... well he's been set in his ways."

"It will be all right," Mia says with a reassuring squeeze to his hand.

A short time later, Lucius's footsteps approached, the staccato thuds a sharp rhythm.

He paused, eying Mia and her mother before his eyes turned to Draco.

"Congratulations," he smoothly replied, and then added to Draco, "Draco, I wish to speak with you in private later. Meet me in my study." He gave a curt nod before walking down the hall.

Draco glanced at his wife and mother in law, "Well, that went better than I expected I think."

Narcissa then came out, "Lucius? Oh, well, I trust he is looking forward to his grandson in his way. Under the circumstances, well, granted we're pleased with how this is turning out."

"I'm happy to hear that, Majesty Narcissa," Mia says, giving Draco's hand another squeeze.

She then leans up to Draco as best she can and quietly asks, "Beloved, could you help me up? I need to make use of the facilities. And we're starting to get a little peckish, darling."

Draco nodded, and excused himself from the mothers. Especially since it looked like Narcissa was launching a discussion about the importance of early magical raising for a child with Lemia.

"Here, this way, luv," he said as he carefully helped her out of the room.

"Thank you, Beloved," she says, hearing Lemia counter with the need for physical education in the event of running into a foe that is protected from magical attacks.

Once she's taken care of her business (leaving the restroom with a funny look on her face, but it's gone so quickly that Draco likely won't notice), she goes back to her husband and asks, "Would baklava be all right for dessert, dear? It was so wonderful the last time you made it. And maybe a nice salad for dinner with lots of good vegetables. And plenty of cucumber in particular."

Beat.

"Oh, but you should probably see what your father wants, too. It will be all right; I'm nowhere near starving."

"He didn't state when, just later. I'll speak with him then."

He then paused at hearing what sounded like his mum laughing.

"Excuse me one moment."

Draco poked his head into the other room before returning to the kitchen.

"Baklava is fine, it won't take that long to make once I fix the dough. And salad's simple enough."

He was still rather surprised, and then asked, "Should I be worried our mums are getting along?"

"As long as you don't leave him waiting too long."

She reaches to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"And I'm glad our mothers are getting along," Mia says, just in time for her statement to be punctuated by some laughter from Lemia. "It means we'll be able to have family time like this more often. Here, I'll help you in the kitchen, Beloved."

"I'm hungry too, and it's time to eat anyway." Draco sent some ingredients into the air before mixing in a bowl to create the dough.

Mia goes to fetch some vegetables and gets some tools together so she can start assembling the salad.

"Will your family be okay with Greek?"

"The way I make it? Yes."

He floated the honey and nuts out to be available as he prepared the dough.

"Your food is always so good, darling," she says.

And after she has the salad ready, she comes behind him and leans against his back, with a quick, momentary nuzzle to his neck to briefly distract him and her hands on his shoulders.

Though a few moments later, she exhales against him. Not a romantic breath against his skin or even a sigh of exhaustion. Something different...

"Mmm," Draco grinned, and went to turn to face her. He then caught her surprised exhale, and placed his hands on her shoulder.

"Mia darling?"

"I'm fine, dear," she says, putting her hands on top of his. "I think my body's just starting up with those Braxton-Hicks contractions that Guppy said I'd probably get. They're so unpredictable that it takes me by surprise when they come about."

Draco's eyes widened, and his brain just latched on the last word.

"You're having CONTRACTIONS?!"

In another room, the voices abruptly grew quiet, and there was a sound of glass shattering.

"Braxton-Hicks contractions, dear," she says, trying to calm him down. "They're not part of any immediate labor, Draco. Believe me, I'd let you know if I thought they were real contractions."

"How is THAT different? You remember your breathing exercises yes?" Draco frantically asked, and was already Accioing her coat for her.

"Yes, but I'm not in labor," Mia protests again.

Meanwhile, Lemia rushes into the room.

"Is Mia all right?"

"I'm fine, Mother. It's just some of those practice contractions."

"Is that what they call them now?"

"Sort of. I'm not in labor, not yet."

"Are you sure?" Draco asked.

"Maybe you should stay nearby," he added to his mother in law.

"Well, as this is our first child, I can't say for certain because I've never been in labor before..."

"It doesn't look like she's in labor to me," Lemia says, looking at her daughter. "Usually it's more...obvious..."

Draco almost panicked more, but then his grey eyes whipped in Lemia's direction.

"Really? It's all right then?"

"Yes, and from what little I recall of it myself, things like these practice contractions are completely normal," Lemia says.

"I'm sorry I worried you so, dear," Mia says, reaching to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I promise I won't bring the word up again unless I think it's the real thing."

Lemia nods and adds, "If you'll excuse me, I'll check on Narcissa and Lucius. I hope that wine didn't stain."

"They're probably fine. Mother would never let stains happen around here if she can help it," Draco remarked before helping Mia.

"Maybe you should just sit while I finish up here?"

Holidays in Wiltshire

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