Astoria awakens to a bright stream of light peeking through the curtains of their living room, Draco warm and sleeping beside her. She's still wrapped in his arms, her cheek pressed to his chest and she inhales deeply. He smells of mint and aftershave, and she revels in it. Pressing her nose into his chest she breaths him again, before a feeling of dread washes over her.

They hate visiting Scorpious, the morning of always making her anxious. It'd been a few months since they'd visited in person, and sending prepaid flowers once a month wasn't enough. She owed a visit to her son.

Carding her hands through his hair, she roused Draco with a kiss to his neck and chin. He shifted, still holding her tightly to him. "Good morning, love."

"Good morning," she whispered, leaning against him. "We should get up, it's probably noon."

"So comfortable though." Draco mumbled, and Astoria giggled. He opened one eye, gazing down at her. "Was that a laugh?"

She nodded, and his heart swelled. It'd been so long since he'd heard that sound, it was like breathing fresh air. Leaning forward he kissed her gently, cupping the side of her jaw and she placed her hand over his. He pulled back, leaned his forehead against hers.

"Come," she whispered, her lips wet. "Let's go see our son."

-

Draco and Astoria always bought penious when they visited Scorpious. Narcissa had insisted that penious were the flowers meant for babies, and the notion had just seemed to stick. His hand placed on her lower back, Astoria bent and placed them on the tombstone of her son.

Scorpious Malfoy
January 8th, 2006

Tears leaked on her cheeks as she fluffed them, making sure the petals bloomed nicely, and her fingers brushed over the carved letters of his name.

"Hi, baby." She whispered, kneeling. Draco's hand drifted to her shoulder, squeezing tightly, grounding her. "Sorry it's been a while. Mommy just gets too sad when she has to leave you." Her voice broke and she wiped at her eyes, "but I promise I'll come more."

She heard Draco sniff, and she reached up, lacing his fingers with hers. Scorpious Malfoy had been born a week premature before his due date. Astoria had woken up with a start, terrified by the red wetness that stained her thighs and Draco had whisked her to St. Mungos, sending a howler to Pansy that something was wrong with his wife. He'd held her hand the whole time until she was taken into the operating room.

They had known her delivery would be difficult, her entire pregnancy being anything but easy. The abuse she had been casted to by her family had left damaging effects on her body. No doctor could really tell Draco what spells had been performed on her, what curses she'd been hit with.

Everyone knew the pregnancy was high risk, but possible. What they hadn't known was that Scorpious had no heartbeat for nearly two weeks before he bled into the world through his mother.

Draco had screamed at Pansy and anyone who would listen to save his child, save his wife, but there was nothing they could have done. His child had already been gone before he'd been born. Astoria had sobbed until she blacked out, and when Harry had strode into the waiting room at the urging of his wife, Draco had collapsed into his arms, screaming until his throat was raw.

"We miss you, love." Astoria whispered, touching the gravestone once more before standing, Draco's hand on her elbow as she moved. They looked back down once more before turning around, hands clasped together, and went home.

**

Worried that the visit to the gravesite would be too much for her, Draco ushered her into the bathroom the moment they entered the manor, sitting her on the counter as she watched him test the bathwater temperature. He turns and comes to stand between her legs at the counter, reaching up to cradle her face, his thumb brushing away her tears.

"What's wrong, love?"

She shrugs, kisses the palm of his hand. "Nothing. I just miss him. And my back aches a bit." Draco nods with understanding. Losing a child is something no parent should ever have to go through, but especially Astoria. She would've been the mother she never had, and he hated that the opportunity had been stripped from her.

"I love you," she whispers, exhaling. "I love you so much."

Draco smiles, kissing her forehead before moving his hands around her back, tugging at the zipper. She automatically moves her arms and allows him to pull her the sleeves off, dropping the garment to her feet. She wiggles out of her underwear and he helps her into the bath, kneeling by the rim.

The warmth of the water soothes her aches, her bones grateful for the heat. Draco ties her hair up before dipping his hand into the water, and rubbing her back slowly, his fingers pressing against the aches. Astoria sighs, brings her knees to her chest and reveals in the feeling of his hands on her skin, the warmth of the water.

"I'm sorry." Astoria whispers, her eyes stuck on the water's reflection.

"What for?" Draco asks, pressing a gentle kiss to her bare shoulder. She turns her head and she's crying again, her lower lip trembling.

"I can spend the rest of my life with you," she says, taking a shaky breath before looking away. "But you can't spend the rest of yours with me."

Draco's glad she wasn't looking at him when she said that. He knew the heartbreak was clear on his face. He doesn't respond, just keeps his fingers on her back, rubbing soothing circles against her skin.

There's a loud pop and a house elf appears. "What?" Draco snaps, his sorrow manifesting as anger. The house elf blinks once before saying, "There is someone at the door for the master, a delivery master must sign."

Draco curses under his breath. "It's ministry documents."

"Go,'' Astoria urges softly, nodding towards the door. "I'll be alright." She can tell he's hesitant, and she leans forward, presses a kiss to his lips. He nods, standing hesitantly, not wanting to leave her for more than a second.

She gives him a shy smile. "Just leave the door open, I'll be right here when you finish." Draco sucks in his teeth but nods.

"Alright," he replies, pressing a kiss to her hair before straightening. "I'll just be a moment."

He begins to walk out when she calls him. "Draco?" He turns, looks down at her nude form. She smiles again, this time it reaches her eyes a little more. "Leave the door open please. Thank you."