Angel on the Cover

A/N Special Thanks to my Beta NoScrubs12345 for all the help whipping this into shape. Please review and let me know what you think.

Draco pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes willing the frustrated tears to stop forming behind his eyelids.

He drew in a deep breath and straightened out before he finished exhaling.

This wasn't going to the get the best of him! He was stronger than all this! He wouldn't be brought down by the act of bringing life into the world!

He stood up, dropping the cloak on the floor where he stood and moved forward, hating the eyes that followed his path hungrily.

"Look up."

He damned Potter at the moment for the millionth time as he felt hands under his chin making his eyes meet the other's.

"Draco, are you feeling okay? Do you need to rest for a little bit?" The photographer smiled apologetically. "I would offer to do it later, but the photos need to be done today or we'll both end up without pay."

"It's fine. Let's just finish this." He nodded to reassure him that he was ready to start.

As Rob snapped away, Draco tried as hard as he could to hold in that annoying extra flesh that had recently made a rude appearance on his body.

"Draco, stop holding your breath!" came the short command.

He let go of the hold that saved his dignity, and dropped his arms from where they rested above his head to rest folded behind his head.

He looked away petulantly to the side. Rob bit back a complaint as he snapped pictures of Draco in that fussy pose, his barely there pout made you want to either kiss it away or turn him over your knee for a spanking. Whatever emotion it invoked in the observer, no one could deny that Draco Malfoy was a beautiful specimen.

As Rob told everyone to pack up and watched Draco head back to the dressing room, he wondered what was bothering the pregnant man. Not for the first time, he wondered where the father of Draco's unborn child was.

Rob had met Draco in a park while taking some time to take scenic photos. He remembered the gorgeous young man sitting on a bench starring out into the lake: The wind tousled baby-fine blond hair, those piercing gray eyes, and a clear complexion that was sure to be the envy of many. He had been dressed in a pair of black slacks and a gray turtle neck sweater.

Something about the young man had struck a chord in him; he seemed so resigned and lost, even as he glared at Rob when he caught him starring.

"There you are!" a heavily gasping man got the words out before he bent resting his hands on his thighs to catch his breath. The man was middle-aged and was clinging to the final strands of his hair in a ridiculous comb over.

The blond looked at him but said nothing.

"You left so quickly. You really need the right kind of work and I can offer you a position working for me," the man said as he sat down next to the blond on the bench.

The bald man shifted closer. "I heard what he said, but I'm sure you'll be able to perform the duties that I would require of you." The meaning of the words was clear as he licked his lips. It seemed as if the man was oblivious to the steady anger growing in the blond, causing red to bloom along his pale skin. "You said you really needed the job," he continued.

Robs eyes had widened as he noticed the man's prey had slowly shifted, and he could see the beginning of what could only be a wand.

'Oh shit,' he thought and looked around the park. None of the muggles seemed to be paying attention, but he couldn't let the blond attack the man here in broad daylight.

He had hurried over and stuck his arm out, separating the two, resting his other hand on the bench backrest. "He doesn't need a job, he already has one. He's not interested in any offer that you have, so please leave."

"Who are you?" the man said questioningly.

"He's my model." Rob lifted the camera in his hands. "He works for me, so you can go." The tone of his voice left no room for argument.

The businessman had looked him over, trying to evaluate his chances at besting him, but thought better of attempting anything with the 6-foot-tall man. With one last look behind the blond's new protector, he called out, "You know where you can find me for a good time and great pay!"

Rob had then turned quickly to stop whatever retribution the man behind me had in mind.

"I can take care of myself," the blond said venomously.

"I'm sure you can; I saw you reaching for your wand. Don't you realize you're surrounded by muggles! You can't just use magic out in the open in muggle territory! Do you want the Ministry to come down on you?"

"What do you want?" the young man said belligerently.

"I know I said it to get that guy to go away, but I am looking for someone to work for me. My name's Robert Johnson, but you can call me Rob." He extended his hand and almost withdrew it when it wasn't shaken right away.

"Draco Malfoy."

"Nice to meet you, Draco. Would you be interested?"

"What would I have to do?"

Draco accepted the card and stood up with a final poke to Rob's ribs with his wand.

"I will not hesitate to emasculate you should you this be a ploy to draw me into something perverse."

With that promise, he turned and walked away.

"Rob!"

His assistant was waving her hand in front of his face trying to catch his attention. "Hurry! We need to get the shots from today ready."

He grabbed his equipment bag and hurried to the door, not surprised to see the robe where Draco had dropped it. Draco still was that same high maintenance little brat he'd met in the park, but he was a genuinely interesting person to be around- when the mood swing permitted it, that is. He wondered if that's what had driven the blond's lover to leave?