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softly-potter · 1 year

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Family Line | Chapter 3: Blooms

Summary: Draco & Astoria struggle dealing with her illness and all the repercussions that come with it.

Pairing: Draco X Astoria

Word Count: 5,798

Warning: illness, depression, child loss

A/N: This fic deals and describes in detail depression and child loss. Inspired by 'Family Line' by Conan Grey. If these topics upset you this fic may not be for you <3 safe reading.

Chapter 1: Acknowledgment | Chapter 2: Mourning

It’s nearly therapeutic for him to take care of her, makes him feel like he’s actually helping, like he’s contributing to something. When he finishes signing off on the documents he files them away in his office returning to the bathroom and finds her staring vacantly at the water. He sits beside the tub, conjuring a cup and begins to move water over her shoulders and neck, whispering that it may be a good idea to wash her hair. She cries again when he squeezes the suds into her locks, apologizing over and over, and he reassures her that she isn’t useless, that he’s glad he can help, and she sniffles as he rids the soap, Draco trying to hide how his heart aches every time she cries.

“I’m sorry,” she cries when he pulls her from the tub, wraps a towel around her and cradles her to him, soaking his shirt and trousers. “Y-you don’t deserve this. I mean, what kind of person gets sad about nothing? I mean, you had it so much worse and you aren’t falling apart.”

“Hey,” he pulls back, takes her face between his hands. “Is that why you keep pushing me away? You think your struggles aren’t valid in comparison to mine?” When her eyes water again Draco knows he finally hit the target. “Oh sweetheart you have nothing to be sorry about. Everything that's happened…everything that we experienced, that you experienced, is completely valid.”

“I don't deserve you.” she whispers and panic tightens itself like a noose around his neck.

Without thought, he brings his mouth to her lips, then leans his forehead against hers. “Please don’t leave me on your own volition.” His eyes squeezed shut he continued, his voice ragged. “I was so alone before you. I can’t do that again. Just be with me, for as long as you have.”

He isn’t enough. No matter what he did he’d never be able to convince her how much she meant to him. Maybe he didn’t love her well enough, or perhaps she'd never truly loved him. Regardless, the fact was that he had failed at making whatever time she had left worthwhile, and the pain of it nearly folded him.

Astoria reaches up, covers the hands that are still on her face with her own. “I’m here,” she murmurs. “I-I’ll be with you until Merlin takes me.” Draco pulls back, staring at her hard. “I want to not be so sad, Draco. I don’t want to waste time, I can’t afford to. I just need help.”

Draco feels the knot in his chest lessen, not so tight around his heart. “That's all I needed to hear, sweetheart.” He kisses her again, moves his lips from her mouth to both her cheeks. “I’m right here.”

Astoria nods, swallows hard. “I know.”

That night Astoria dresses in clean white linens, her hair freshly combed and braided, and they eat dinner together on the patio for the first time in nearly two months. She’s hesitant, taking small bites at his light encouragement. Draco has the house elves change the sheets, and their home feels just a little bit brighter.

Astoria grabs Draco's hand, pulling him to her when she climbs into bed, and his heart soars as he’s welcomed back into their space. He promises tomorrow he’ll call Pansy, and she’ll direct them to a grief and guidance counselor, to help Astoria get back to herself. After all, she’d spent the better part of the beginning of their marriage doing the same for him; he’d gladly do it for her.

As the months drift on Draco hovers more than he’d like to admit. He cooks daily instead of leaving it to the house elves, making things he knows she'll enjoy, and tries to keep her spirits up. They visit Scorpious once a month, but don’t linger too long. Occasionally it causes a set back, and he’ll find her in bed for hours until he can eventually coax her out. Pansy put them in contact with a kind witch who specialized in child loss and they began individual therapy sessions once a month. Astoria often returned from them red eyed and puffy faced, but smiling non the less.

Mourning was a messy road.

She gets into the habit of planting, specifically fruits, and without the aid of magic. When her first strawberry flowers sprout, indicating that the fruit will be growing soon, she immediately dragged Draco outside to show him, kneeling in the dirt to point out the petals.

“It should be a good season!” She preens, and Draco touches the petals lightly. “If so, I'm packaging them up and sending them to Daphne, she'll love them.”

Things really begin to take a turn for the better when he comes home from work and finds Astoria in their kitchen, cooking. He rushes to the kitchen, not sure what he’ll find before he stops in his tracks. Music is bouncing off the whiles and she’s singing, a streak of flour on her cheek and some clings to the sleeves of her top. Her tune is perfect, she always did have an ear for music, and she’s bouncing on the balls of her feet as she stirs, her wand stuck in the top knot on her head. There's blueberries from her garden littering the counter, some have fallen to the floor, and she pops one in her mouth, continuing to hum and Draco nearly cries.

Placing his wand on the marble island he paces up behind her, snaking his arms around her middle and burying his nose in her hair, delighted in the sound she makes.

“You scared me!” She laughed, gripping onto wrists in mock shock. “I thought you’d be home later.”

“Mmm got off early,” he murmured, ducking his head to kiss her exposed neck. “Glad I did. The lady of the manor seems to be baking something delicious.” He nips at the junction between her neck and shoulder and she laughs again, even harder. Wiggling out of his grasp, Astoria pulled her wand from her hair and whispered to herself, the music lowering just a bit.

“How does it smell?” She asked, pulling the oven open slightly. They peered inside together. Two pies were nestled deep inside, the tops nearly a golden brown.

“Divine,” Draco praises, standing as she closes the oven door. She moves forward and grabs a handful of blueberries, holding one out to him. He wraps an arm around her waist, pulls her close to him, before opening his mouth. She laughs, dropping the fruit into his mouth and he chews thoughtfully. “These from the garden?”

She nods with pride. “We’re only eating fruit from the garden.”

“Won’t find complaints from me.” He muses, before kissing her and smiling against her lips. She laughs again, and it's been so long since he’s heard her laugh so much that his smile aches from how hard it's plastered to his face.

He pulls her to him again, kissing her fiercely, and he’s surprised when her tongue dipped into his mouth. Hands on her waist, he pulls at her bottom lip tentatively, testing the waters. They hadn’t been intimate in some time, and he never wanted to push her, was satisfied with celibacy if it made her happy, and he wasn’t about to mess it up.

Astoria wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, and he pushes them against the counter, picking her up effortlessly by the thighs and placing her on the surface. She spreads her legs a little and he steps between them, mouths dancing, his hands on her hips and her fingers in his hair. His tongue grazes her lower lip and she preens, presses herself to him. He cups her face, tilts it slightly so he can access her neck before trailing kisses down her lips and chin and to her neck. She tugs lightly on his hair as he laps at her skin, kissing and sucking the flesh in reverence. When he bites down, he feels her nails scrap his scalp and it makes him dizzy, blood rushing to his lower abdomen.

“Draco!” She yelps, and he steps back immediately, worried he’d crossed a line. He’s panting, and an apology exits his mouth before she jumps down, rushing to the oven and dropping the lid open. Using her wand, she brings both pies out and settles them atop the stove, shaking her head with a laugh before glancing at him. “Sorry, they were burning.”

Astoria takes in his worried expression and pales. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing!” He says quickly, runs a hand through his hair nervously. “I just…I thought you were upset. Wanted me to stop.”

She realizes her mistake and relents, walking to him slowly and places her hands on his waist. “No, that's not it. I just didn’t want them to burn.”

Raising on her tiptoes, Astoria cups his face, and drags her tongue across his lower lip. Dracos stock froze, his hands dropped by his side, unsure of what to do or how to react.

“Thank you, Draco. For everything.” She whispers, settling back on her feet. “Thank you for never giving up on me. I need you to know that I'm so, so thankful. I don’t know how long I have but, I’m so grateful I get to spend it as your wife.”

“Of course, love,” Draco whispers, his hands crawling up her back slowly. “For better or for worse.” Astoria nods, her eyes shining at the uncertainty that is their future. She places her hands on his chest, looks down at the wedding band on her finger.

“For better or for worse.” She replies softly, craning her neck to look at him. “Now, while those pies are cooling…how about we make up for some lost time?” Her grin is mischievous, and she juts her hip against towards the bedroom door. Draco’s taken aback at her forwardness but grins, leaning down to pick her up. She hollers as he throws her over his shoulder, landing a sharp smack on her backside before santering to their bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.

#drastoria #draco and astoria #astoria greengrass #greengrass

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