"Papa! Papa!" the five-year-old shouted as she ran into Lucius's study. Her red wine curls bounced merrily as she vaulted onto his lap.

Lucius grunted, but caught her easily. "Rosie, love, what have I told you about running through the Manor?" he asked gently.

The little girl pouted. "Not to," she replied as her tiny fingers twirled the ends of her hair.

"That's right," he said, smiling and bopping her nose lightly with his index finger. "Now, what is it you wished to tell me, my little princess?"

She lifted her chin and gave him a brilliant smile. "I just wanted to invite you to the tea party Scorps and I are having," she told him. "Mummy said you were too busy with work to join, but Tori said if I came and asked nicely that she thought you wouldn't mind. So, Papa? Would you? Please?"

Lucius glanced at the documents on his desk. He had been staring at numbers since the early hours of the morning. Looking back at his daughter, he asked, "Did you invite Draco?"

Her mouth popped opened. Tapping his chest with her little finger, she said, "I couldn't find him, Papa. I wanna invite him, but he's not here in the Manor." Holding up both of her hands, she shook her head.

The wizard grinned. Of course. He knew how much Draco "loved" the little tea parties Rose threw. Every. Day. "Well, how about this," he suggested. "I have a few more things to clear up here. After that, I will happily join you. I will even have Draco with me. Does that sound like a good plan?"

She nodded. "Don't be late, though," she warned. "I know you don't like cold tea, Papa. And Mummy's got some biscuits ready, too."

"Has," he corrected with a smile.

"Has," she repeated. "Ok, Papa. I will see you soon." She reached up, kissed his cheek, and hopped down.

As she started to run, Lucius reprimanded, "Rose."

She slowed down and looked back at him. "Sorry, Papa," she said and walked out of the room.

He could hear her small shoes echoing in the hallway as she picked up her pace. Shaking his head, he smiled in amusement and turned his attention back to his paperwork.

It seemed only yesterday that Lucius had become reacquainted with Hermione Granger, when in fact it was five years ago. Now they were happily married with a little girl and another child on the way. He still didn't know what he had done to deserve her, but he couldn't complain. To say he was happy and content with his life now was a dramatic understatement.

And how he loved that little girl. She was so smart and looked so much like her mother. She had already started to show signs of magic, too, which thrilled him to no end. It was hard not to spoil her and give her everything she wanted.

Speaking of… He stood up and went to his fireplace. Throwing some Floo powder into it, he called out the name of the gentlemen's club in which he knew Draco was hiding.

It didn't take him long to find his son sequestered in one of the many offices. Though the door was open, he rapped his knuckles upon it to alert Draco. The young man glanced up.

"Hello, Father," he greeted. "Looking for an escape yourself from the madhouse?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I was looking for you," he stated casually. "You're needed at home."

Draco looked up in confusion. "Hermione said the potion wouldn't be done brewing until tomorrow. Is it already time?"

Lucius frowned. "No, but there's a little girl who's looking for you," he replied. "She wanted to invite you to her tea party today."

Draco's eyes widened momentarily before he rolled them and groaned. "She had a tea party yesterday," he complained. "And the day before and the day before that. The kid's going to turn into a tea cup if she's not careful."

Lucius chuckled. "Doubtful. However, I was tasked to find you and bring you to the party," he said.

"When did you become an owl?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Funny," Lucius drawled, completely unamused. "Are you ready?"

Draco frowned and looked longingly at his paperwork. "Do I have to?" he whined.

The older Malfoy rolled his eyes and gave an impatient sigh. Looking up at his father, Draco sighed as well and grumbled as he stood and stretched. "Fine," he said as he popped his shoulder. "But don't expect me to enjoy myself."

Lucius lifted an eyebrow at that, but followed his son to the fireplace.

(II)(II)

Hermione sat at the table in the garden as she watched Rose and Scorpius run around, playing. She idly rubbed her stomach as Astoria joined her.

"It's such a beautiful day," the younger witch commented.

The Muggleborn agreed. "Rose said that Lucius and Draco will be joining us today for tea time," she said.

Astoria grinned. "That little girl has Father wrapped around her little pinky," she teased with a giggle.

"I know," Hermione groaned. The women shared a look and laughed. "You know he already has her sixth birthday party planned? I had to stop him from buying her a broom as a birthday gift."

"And you realize he probably bought it for her anyway," Astoria pointed out.

The older witch rolled her eyes. "Of that, I have little doubt. I'm just glad that the one he was looking at was child appropriate. I think I'd have a heart attack if he bought her a proper broom."

They watched as Lucius and Draco entered the garden. Rose screamed in laughter as Draco picked her up and turned her upside down before resting her on his shoulder.

"Drakey!" the little girl giggled as she held her hands out like she was flying.

Draco turned his head a bit to prevent her from hitting him in the face. "Watch it, you little stinker," he said as he lifted her higher in the air.

She screamed again and spread her arms wider. "Yay!" she shouted. "I'm flying! Look, Papa! I'm flying!"

Lucius smirked as he approached his wife and kissed her gently. "How are you feeling, love?" he asked as he brushed a lock of her hair out of her face.

"I feel fine," she assured him. "Pashto said that my vitals are normal and that we will be having a healthy baby boy."

He grinned and kissed her again. "I know. I was there, remember?"

Her smile widened. "Yes, you were," she confirmed and kissed him back.

"Mummy, Papa, it's tea time!" Rose said as she struggled out of Draco's arms and ran between her parents.

Draco turned his attention to his own family, giving his wife a kiss as he picked up his son.

(III)(III)

"I received another owl from Ron," Hermione said as she stood outside of Rose's door.

Lucius sat in the bed with Rose tucked against his side as he read her a bedtime story. He paused for a moment and looked up at his wife. "And?" he asked as Rose rubbed her face against his chest.

"He sent another you-know-what, too, for you-know-who," Hermione continued with a sigh.

The wizard rolled his eyes and gazed back down at the book. "I hope you burned it," he commented. Glancing back up at her, he frowned. "We're having brunch with the Potters later this week, yes?" he asked. At her nod, he continued, "Perhaps we should mention it to Harry, then. It's been, what, two years now?"

"I still can't believe you convinced him to sign those papers," she fussed. "And that you didn't tell me!"

Lucius shrugged as he turned a page in the book. "I thought we were over that by now?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Chuckling, she said, "You're lucky I love you. Please try not to keep her up too late."

He glanced down at the little girl. "You heard her," he said to her. "You should fall asleep now."

"But, Papa, what happens next?" Rose asked.

He kissed the top of her wine colored hair. Holding her close, he read, "'At last the happy day came; they went to Court, and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as she could..."

(IV)(IV)

Draco found Hermione in the potions lab. "Any luck?" he asked as he joined her at the bench.

She stirred the potion a bit more, watching as it turned a pale blue. "Just a few more minutes and it will be ready. Did you study that spell I told you about?" she questioned not looking at him.

"Of course I did. Bloody hell, woman, you plan to test me on it?"

She sent him a glare. "I was thinking a pop quiz," she commented. "Think you're ready?"

"I can give you a bloody essay if you like, from memory alone," he bit back as he perched himself on a stool.

She sighed. "I just hope this works," she said.

He gave her a soft smile. "So do I, Granger, so do I," he told her.

She looked at him. Reaching out, she touched his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "She'll be all right, Draco. She has two of Hogwarts's finest students working on it."

"Correction. She has two Malfoys working on it," Draco said.

They looked at one another and shared a smile.

Author's Notes: I want to thank you all for joining me on this journey. It's been a fun ride and I am glad you have enjoyed it! Thank you all for your positive feedback. :)