Now I'm speechless,

Over the edge,

I'm just breathless

I never thought that I'd catch this,

Lovebug again.

Hopeless,

Head over heels in the moment,

I never thought that I'd get hit.

By this lovebug again.

Lovebug, Jonas Brothers

Bonded by Fate

Act IV Scene I

Hermione sat in the comfortable daybed style window seat that had appeared in the room shortly after all her books had arrived. On the table right by her was a table filled with beautiful English Roses in pink and a wildflower in blue that she knew grew at the Krum Estate. She let her fingers flutter over the blooms that graced her room every day. With a great sigh she sat back and rested her hands on her large belly. She had been able to leave the room for a few weeks but she was ungainly now and had voluntarily gone back on 'room rest' as she called it after a bout of accidental magic from her mischievous twins had almost caused her to fall last week.

Looking out the window she could see that spring was fully upon them. Draco was just feet away in an office that had also been set up for him by elves. She was keeping a journal now of all the things the elves were doing without being asked or commanded. They were pretty much a law unto themselves. She was even starting to recognize a hierarchy of sorts amongst the two family groups of elves.

Sighing again she picked up the book on elf magic that Draco had found for her somewhere in France. It was certainly far more informative than any other book, journal, or tome she had come across to date; but she was finding it hard to focus.

Draco snorted and she looked over to see him frowning as he scribbled in his journal while consulting three tomes at once. He was working on a cure for some poisonous fly that caused some magical flu in Brazil. She found herself studying him and smiling as he shuffled papers looking for some scroll or another from another healer he was consulting with on the case. He was rather adorable when he was frustrated. He was currently mumbling all the evil things he would like to do to the fly that was responsible for an ill magical population half a world away.

Stifling her giggle at his promise to rip off the wings of every flying insect in Brazil she quickly ducked her head behind her own book as he looked up.

"Laughing at me, Hermione?"

She quickly glanced up and then hid behind her book again, "Of course not."

Another snort and more shuffling and she felt it was safe to look up. She was again trying to cover a laugh, he had ink in his hair.

"What has you laughing if it isn't at me?" Draco asked not looking up from his scribbling.

Hermione smiled and put down her book. "The flowers the elves keep leaving for me. It's sweet."

Draco glanced up and looked at the large vase holding the blooms a slight smirk gracing his lips. "The Malfoy elves started the trend for their 'Princess' and then the Krum elves wanted their 'Prince' represented too."

Hermione nodded still smiling as she ran her hand over the blooms again. "I can't find records of elves being this devoted to heirs before."

Draco put down his quill and leaned back stretching. "I am not sure there has been a case of elves using their magic to save an heir like they did in rather a long time."

Hermione turned and nodded her hands moving down to touch her stomach where two babies seemed to be doing summersaults within.

"Feisty today?" Draco asked with a small laugh.

Hermione nodded and winced as a particularly strong kick landed on one of her hands. "Very feisty," she said rubbing her stomach. "I don't understand how I am not black and blue with how much they kick me."

Draco did laugh now and stood up moving over to pour them both some freshwater, handing her a glass before he drank his.

Hermione looked down at her glass and felt her heart flutter. He always did that, he always served her first. It wasn't something she ever thought would mean so much to her, but it did. Licking her lips, she sipped her water and watched Draco walk back over to his desk. He did his best to give her as much space as he could. In the room, in the bed they had to share, and even at the table when they ate.

She was so close to him yet so far away.

Another kick reminded her that she needed to drink the water in her hand and she did looking back out the window.

Those first weeks she had been at Malfoy Manor she had been so angry, hurt, and resentful. Now though- well, she wasn't sure what she was feeling.

After she had lost Viktor she had been sure that she could never love again. All she could think about was him, and never seeing him again. Nothing had mattered, not even her babies. She was a bit ashamed of how far her grief had taken her.

No longer angry with Draco Malfoy for saving her she was left with room to really think about what his actions had cost him. He was as stuck as her in this room, yet she had never heard him complain once.

Why was that?

It was this question that kept her up at night now. Not Viktor's memory. Not her terror at becoming a mother of twins. She wanted to know why Draco Malfoy didn't resent her. He was stoic but kind.

Of courses, Hannah had been telling her all along it was because Draco Malfoy loved her. Hermione had scoffed at this for the first few months. Now, however, she was wondering if it could possibly be true? And even more shocking she was wondering if she could possibly love him back? The problem was she no longer doubted her feelings, but she did doubt Draco's.

Although he was perfectly gracious and attentive, she was unable to see anything besides friendliness in his actions. The few times she had tried to touch him lately he had seemed appalled. Perhaps he had once thought himself in love with her, but she was rather sure that no longer was the case.

So lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that the morning was slipping away. She turned as a throat cleared to find Hannah smiling at her and holding a basket. Looking around she saw that Draco had disappeared to give her privacy, as he always did when Hannah showed up once a day.

"What has you daydreaming?" Hannah asked with a small laugh taking a seat next to her and putting the basket down between them.

Hermione shook her head with a small smirk and gestured out the window. "All the flowers. I don't believe I have ever taken the time to watch Spring unfold before. It's beautiful, watching the countryside come alive and bloom every day."

Hannah peeked out the window and let her eyes slide over the view. "It is a lovely view," she said sitting back and turning her attention to the food she had brought. "It's about time you took the time to appreciate it."

Hermione glared with little heat and shifted her weight waving off the small elf that rushed forward to help her up. "No Ivy, I am fine, I just needed to move around a bit."

Hannah smirked at her friend and then chuckled. "Aren't they making you stand every five minutes still?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No the last few days."

Hannah clucked her tongue and looked over her friend critically as she handed her a muffin. "The babies are lower today."

Hermione nodded grabbing the muffin greedily. "Yes, I know."

Hannah chuckled and handed over the roast chicken sandwich she had made for her friend. "It's close, the birth?"

Hermione shrugged and slowly chewed her muffin. It was a chocolate veggie bran muffin that Hannah had invented specifically for her.

"I would assume so, yes. The elves have been frantic lately. They won't tell me anything useful of course," she said giving Ivy a knowing look.

Hannah laughed loudly and took a bite of her sandwich. "I am sure they don't tell you anything because, for every answer they give you, you ask five more questions."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at her friend and sighed sitting back and shifting again. Her back ached and she missed being able to see her own feet.

"Probably very true," Hermione conceded after she had found a comfortable position again.

Hannah winked at the elf who was clearly grinning and then frowned at her friend who was panting softly.

"What's up?"

Hermione shrugged and then winced, "these kids are football players." Hannah frowned at that and Hermione laughed. "It's a muggle thing, Hannah."

Hannahs' eyes went wide and she nodded still frowning. "Are you in pain?"

Hermione gave a large sigh and another wince, "well, I wouldn't call it pain; but it certainly is not comfortable."

Hannah shook her head. "Ron is hammering to start a family."

Hermione smiled at her friend rubbing her belly. "And what do you think?"

Hannah sighed and put down her sandwich. "I think I don't wish to have twins."

Hermione barked out a laugh and then regretted it instantly as a twin landed a kick to her ribs. "Ouch! I bet that was the Malfoy Princess!"

Hannah giggled and moved her hand to her friends' belly. "Any luck on names?"

Hermione smirked and shook her head. "It is the only thing I have to fight with Draco over, so I am still being obstinate about it."

Hannah mock glared at her friend, "that is so evil, Hermione."

Hermione smirked and shrugged looking down at her belly. "I know, but he is adorable when he gets flustered and is so hard to rile that I simply can't give up the one thing guaranteed to upset him."

Hannah gave a little gasp and removed her hand starring at her friend, "you like him!"

Hermione went pink and bit her lip but nodded. "Yes, rather a lot."

Hannah stared at her with wide eyes full of mirth. "Oh, Merlin. What will you do?"

Hermione gave a one-shouldered shrug. "Well, nothing while I am stuck in a window seat as big as a house."

Hannah's' laugh turned to a snort. "Oh, Hermione, you are not as big as a house," her friend looked around mischievously and then said, "well not as big as this house, certainly."

Hermione hit her friend on the shoulder. "Rude, Hannah. I have no idea what to do. I know you think he is in love with me but he hardly touches me and is nothing like Viktor. You could see the passion in Viktors' eyes. Draco is so contained." She gestured down at her large belly helplessly, "not that I am expecting him to find me desirable in this state but any indication he harbours something more than friendliness would be helpful."

Hannah bit her lip thoughtfully. "He certainly wanted more than friendship before, Hermione."

Hermione shrugged her eyes filling with tears. "Possibly he did, but then he became a father and I was an angry shrew for weeks on end."

Hannah laughed soberly and then sighed. "You certainly were a bit shrewish, yes."

They sat in silence for a bit before Hannah asked softly, "is it like what you felt with Viktor?"

Hermione went pensive before she said slowly. "No, no I wouldn't say so. It is stronger."

Hannah jumped up and down with excitement. "Hermione that is-"

Hermione cut her off with a fierce frown, "terrifying. It is terrifying, Hannah. I was completely hopeless when I lost Viktor and I loved him with all my soul. What-" she gulped and then continued. "What will happen if Draco doesn't love me?"

"What will happen if he does?" Hannah countered her tone calm.

Hermione felt tears slip down her face. "I don't want to love again, Hannah."

Unspoken but understood by her best friend was the sentence Hermione was too afraid to speak.

"What if I lose him too?"

Hannah hugged her friend fiercely her eyes filling up with tears. "Oh, Hermione. Draco isn't Viktor."

Hermione nodded and wiped at the tears leaking out of her eyes. "I know, but-"

"Shh, stop it Hermione you will just upset yourself."

Hermione let out a small sob and buried her head on her friends' shoulder.

OooOOooO

Draco backed up into the hall and worked to not lose his lunch. He had walked in to see Hermione crying and caught the conversation right before she started sobbing into her friends' arms.

He wasn't Viktor.

He knew that dammit, he knew that with every fiber of his being. And because he wasn't Viktor, the man she loved, he was never going to be good enough.

Taking a steadying breath he pivoted and went back down the hall.

"Where are you going?"

Draco turned and stared at one of his great aunts who was giving him a disgusted look.

"I don't feel that is any of your business."

His aunt sneered at him, "eavesdropping never served anyone a fair hand, young man."

Draco felt his magic flare before he gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

"Not so fast, young man."

Draco spun around again infuriated. "You have no-"

"Oh do shut up, boy."

Draco looked to his right and bristled at another great aunt.

"She loves you and you are too stupid to even see it," was said by this grey-haired aunt.

Draco had drawn a breath to curse them to silence and so all the air rushed out of his lungs as he stared at this aunt in shock. "What?"

There was a soft sigh behind him and he whirled around to see Hannah who was looking at him as if he was helplessly dim-witted.

"What?" Draco asked again, this time to Hannah.

Hannah patted him on the arm. "She is sleeping, the elves wish to speak with you."

Draco nodded stupidly and then jumped as Hannah pinched his arm sharply.

"What? I mean yes of course."

Hannah shook her head. "She is right you know."

"Um, who is right?"

"Your relation, you ninny."

Draco shook his head firmly. "Impossible."

Hannah gave a soft grunt and pushed him aside. "Well, it certainly will be impossible if you don't pull your head out of your arse."

Draco watched in shock as Hannah walked away and whirled around as another portrait said approvingly. "I do so love badgers. They always know how to call it like they see it."

"Indeed," said one of the aunts.

Draco stormed off to find the elves not willing to engage in a debate with long-dead relatives.

He had elves to talk to.

Authors Notes:

Where have I been?

I wish I had a good answer to that. Sadly, I have to report that my own love life fell apart over the last year.
I am now living in Virginia starting a new life with my children. Why Virginia? Well, my mother is here with my sister and her family.
I promise I have not abandoned you, dear readers. I am just searching for who I am now, because I am certainly no longer the woman I was when I started any of my current WIP's.

Figure out who you are and do it on purpose.
Dolly Parton

It is good advice that I plan to follow.

Again, thank you so much for the love, support, and understanding. You, my readers, have been a constant joy in my life since I started my fanfiction journey. I thank God daily that I found this fandom and all of you.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter I was able to write today.
Cheers,
Cjean

I still own nothing and do not make money off my fanfiction. All credit to J.K for letting us play in her sandbox.