A Priceless Gift

Chapter 18

"How are you feeling today, Draco?" Bill asked as he walked with Draco down to the conference room for their meeting.

"A little nauseous and tired, but today is one of my better days," Draco murmured. "I didn't sleep too well last night."

"You've been quiet since you arrived this morning. Gracie wondered if you'd had some bad news or something. She wanted to give you a hug. She told me she thought you looked like you were about to cry," Bill prodded and Draco frowned.

"I don't know what gave her that idea," Draco replied. "I'm no different today than any other day these past three months."

"Mmm," Bill hummed noncommittally. "Half way through the pregnancy now, then?"

"Yes, sir," Draco confirmed.

"Thank fucking god?" Bill asked in amusement and Draco stopped walking and gaped at Bill.

"Something like that." Draco shook his head in disbelief. "Aren't we meeting in the main boardroom?"

"No. We're meeting in my office. I told them this was not to be an official meeting," Bill explained and Draco's frown deepened.

"Why not?"

"These are mere negotiations, Draco. There's no need to pull out the big guns," Bill said.

"NO!" Draco finally snapped. "These are not 'mere negotiations'! I want this over and fucking done with once and for all! Fuck negotiations! This has gone on long enough!" Draco pushed his thumb and forefinger into his eyes to stop himself bursting into tears. "I'm sorry. That was out of line," he mumbled and took a deep breath.

"Draco..."

"Why are you all pressuring me into this?" Draco asked in a small voice. "Why is it so important for me to accept? You keep saying the deal will suit me; I can have the caseload I want, the hours I want, my pick of offices, parking spaces... why?"

"You're the best junior attorney we have, Draco. It's you we want. There is no one else suitable for this promotion," Bill told him, and Draco moved along the corridor a bit and sat heavily into one of the chairs there.

"Then why promote anyone? I've not exactly been in top form these last few months, yet you have all just put the heavies on me further."

"Sure, you haven't been in top form, but your work hasn't suffered at all. It's rather impressive to the partners. Only the other week, Victor said he heard you vomiting quite violently in the bathroom, then watched as you cleaned yourself up and went directly into a three hour long conference without missing a beat! Some staff here are off for two days with a head cold and their whole caseload goes belly up! You're bloody good, Draco. There's something about you that they can't put their finger on, but they want it. They aren't going to give up without a fight," Bill warned.

"I don't have the energy to fight!" Draco protested.

"Then don't fight it. Take the promotion you've worked so hard for," Bill urged.

Draco sighed, and with swimming thoughts of Harry and their baby, he made his way into the meeting.

o o o o o

Harry watched Draco push his spaghetti bolognaise around his plate half-heartedly. He was itching to know what happened with Draco at work earlier that day, but Draco had yet to be forthcoming with any information.

They were out to dinner with Blaise at a restaurant not far from Draco's work. Draco thought it was only polite to take Blaise to dinner as a welcome home, but now appeared to have no interest in his meal whatsoever. Blaise was chattering away about his acting job and seemed oblivious to Draco's morose mood.

"I'll be right back. Need the loo," Blaise said.

"He doesn't need the loo. He's gone to chat up our waiter," Draco murmured, eyes never leaving his plate.

"Is your stomach bothering you again?" Harry asked. Draco finally looked up, and Harry could see he looked really tired.

"No, I'm just not hungry."

"Was, um, work alright?" Harry tried.

"I took the promotion, Harry. Effective immediately," Draco sighed.

"Oh..." Harry put down his fork and looked away. He hadn't expected Draco to take the promotion. He knew now that hoping Draco would put work aside for their baby was asking too much, but he did hope that Draco would be satisfied with his job as it was to leave him free to be the father he yearned to be. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Draco answered warily.

"You know, I... um... I'm not feeling too well. I think I might just Apparate home. I'll see you when you get back," Harry said hastily, and he was up and stalking away from the table before Draco had time to react.

o o o o o

The house was completely silent and dark when Draco and Blaise arrived back. I've really fucked up this time, Draco thought guiltily.

"Maybe he's in bed?" Blaise suggested as he flicked on the lights, and Draco shielded his eyes at the sudden bright intrusion in his face.

"I don't doubt that... if he even came home," Draco replied with a sigh. "He's upset with me for taking the promotion."

"But you wanted it," Blaise argued.

"That was before the baby, Blaise. A lot has changed."

"You talk in riddles, mate. If you didn't want it, then why did you take it?" Blaise asked in exasperation. "It's seems pretty black and white to me."

"I don't want to talk about it. I need to make sure Harry is ok. Are you right for everything? You don't mind if I head to bed?" Draco said distractedly.

"It's only eight o'clock! I doubt you'll be getting any tonight. Stay and watch a movie with me or something," Blaise suggested.

"I'm not going to let Harry lie up there and stew," Draco said. "I'm sorry you're caught up in our domestic crap, but it's how things are just now. Goodnight."

"Yeah, night," Blaise sighed and settled into the couch with the remote control.

Draco dragged himself up the stairs and contemplated how to broach the subject with Harry. Draco had literally burst into the meeting and accepted the promotion without letting himself think on it further. His final thought had arrogantly been something along the lines of why couldn't he have his dream job as well as be a perfect father. He deserved it, and it must be possible. But as soon as Draco had signed the contracts, he realised all that he deserved was a huge kick up the arse and had started to feel that guilty sick feeling in his stomach. Although the terms of his promotion were ideal for him - he really did get the hours, cases, office, and car parking space he wanted - he was going to be more busy and distracted with work than he had ever been before, no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise.

Draco opened the bedroom door and found the room just as dark as the rest of the house had been, but he knew Harry was in bed. "Are you awake, baby?"

"No," was Harry's soft reply.

"Are you angry at me?" Draco asked as he felt his way over to the bed and perched on the edge; his hand snaking it's way over to touch any part of Harry he could.

"I'm disappointed in you. Not angry," Harry said. "I'm hurt too, but I don't really know why."

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered.

"No, you're not," Harry said sadly. "You wanted this. You deserve it. You're guilty, but you aren't sorry."

"I just think I can do this," Draco said helplessly.

"Of course you can." Harry's voice was too calm; it was almost dead and sent a shiver down Draco's back. There was hardly any emotion is his statement, and Draco hadn't even heard Harry shift in the bed.

"I can still be a good Dad!" Draco cried.

"Yes," Harry agreed. "Let me know when you have a spare appointment for me in between being top-shot lawyer and super-dad; maybe you can have a stab at being perfect-boyfriend as well."

"I'm not going to let our relationship suffer, Harry!" Draco argued.

"What do you think is going to happen when the baby comes? You are going to go to work each day for your usual ten or so hours, come home, give the baby a few cuddles, change a dirty nappy or two, then fall into bed and start the whole process again? Fatherhood involves a lot more than tucking-in and patching up scraped knees. How can you possibly experience all our baby's important moments when you are never here?" Harry asked, the anger now starting to hedge his tone.

"I only work five days a week!"

"Oh, so I can expect a free time slot on Saturdays and Sundays? Wait, hang on. What about the weekends when you are due in court on Mondays? I can expect some spare time on Saturdays and Sundays every second weekend... yeah, sounds great. Perfect foundations for a 'relationship' that is," Harry murmured.

"Harry, I'm not going to neglect you," Draco said. He was starting to feel upset and teary with Harry laying the guilt on thick. "Why are you doing this? I thought you were happy for me to take the promotion!"

"Then you don't fucking know me as well as you think you do!" Harry hissed. "Everything changed when Hermione fell pregnant! Everything, Draco! I thought you would give a shit enough to realise that! I trusted you to make the right decision without me needing to whinge and whine like a spoilt child! How are we supposed to be a proper family when a large part of you will always be committed to your oh-so-important law firm?! I'm starting to think right now that it might be a good thing if Hermione does decided to keep the baby! It will save me and our baby a whole lot of heartache in the future when you are too busy to be there for us!"

Draco's mouth dropped open and he gasped at Harry's harsh words. "I can't believe you said that," he said sadly.

Harry suddenly sat up in bed and flicked the lamp on. Draco now saw that Harry was crying, and probably had been since he got home as his face was red and blotchy and his eyes were puffy. There were now more silent tears dripping from his green eyes and trickling down his cheeks. "Believe it, Draco, because I meant every word," he whispered harshly. He scrambled out of bed, pulled on a thick sweater over his pyjamas and put his glasses on before fleeing downstairs.

"Harry!" Draco shouted and raced after him; their footsteps making heavy thumping sounds as they sped down the stairs. "Harry, stop!"

Harry didn't listen, and Blaise looked up in surprise at the commotion. Without looking back, Harry grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and disappeared in a roar of green flames as he shouted out Hermione's address.

o o o o o

Harry fell out of Hermione's fireplace and dropped to his knees. He soon realised he was crying again, and he brought a sooty hand up to his face to wipe away the tears, only managing to smear the black dust with the tears, leaving streaks across his face.

"Harry!" Hermione cried in surprise as she waddled over to Harry and helped him up off the floor. Harry looked up and realised he'd obviously interrupted an intense make-out session between Ron and Hermione, as Ron was sitting on the couch looking very ruffled as he hastily grabbed a cushion and placed it in his lap. "Oh, sweetheart, what's happened?"

"Draco took the promotion," Harry sobbed.

"Shhh, come sit down. We'll talk about it," Hermione murmured into Harry's ear. She looked over the top of Harry's head and mouthed to Ron to call Draco. Ron nodded and discreetly left the room. "What's upset you so much, Harry?"

"I thought he would finally realise the baby and I are more important than his work," Harry hiccupped. "I've tried so hard to be understanding about how hard he works, and I really was ok with it until we decided to have the baby. I always just accepted it as the norm, you know? Then I started wanting him around more; wanting us to start being a real family, not just partners. He told me after he was first offered the promotion that he didn't think taking it was the right thing to do. He wanted to be a perfect dad and give the baby all the time he or she deserves. I was over the moon when he said that. But now, he's fucked it all up and taken the promotion anyway! I just think now that everything he said to me about wanting to be a good father and us to be a family was bullshit. How can I rely on anything he says if he's just going to change his mind all the time?"

Harry was a mess, and Hermione felt helpless. She didn't know what to say, but knew Harry needed some sort of reassurance. She wanted to slap Draco, but had to restrain herself, knowing she only had one side of the story. She wrapped her arms around him, and he let himself be hugged tightly. "Are you worried he's not going to be committed to the baby when it's born?" she asked gently.

Harry laughed harshly. "No, I have no doubt he'll be committed to the baby. I'm more worried he won't be committed to me. He's not going to have time..."

"You know he loves you, right?" Hermione questioned.

"I know. But just knowing that is not enough. I need him around... I... I'd die if I couldn't just hold him every day," Harry mumbled and then shook his head. "I know it sounds fucking cheesy, but it's how I feel, Hermione!"

"You don't need to justify your feelings to me, Harry. I know how special the bond between you and Draco is. Do you really think his taking the promotion can breach that?"

"Yes, I do, and it will," Harry insisted. "I love him to bits and think he's perfect, but he's not a god. Parenthood alone is almost a full-time job. I don't mind putting off my career until our child is old enough to not need us around twenty-four-seven, but what will happen when he or she only sees Draco for a short time each day? Mrs Weasley told me a child is most impressionable in their early years. Draco wants so much to be a perfect dad, but it's not possible if our baby is only going to see him for five minutes in the morning and half an hour at night before he falls asleep in exhaustion on the couch! I want him to get the most out of this experience, and I want us to do it together. Equally. He has to give a little too, but he just won't!"

"Perhaps you should just go home and talk to him about this," Hermione suggested tentatively, looking closely at Harry's tear and soot streaked face. She smiled softly before summoning a wet face cloth and gently wiping his face clean.

"He probably doesn't want to talk to me. I said something horrible to him." Harry sniffled and gazed down at his feet miserably.

"He does want to talk to you." Harry jumped at the voice and turned to see Draco standing next to Hermione's entertainment unit, holding himself up on it. Harry wasn't the only one who could see Draco looked ill because Hermione jumped up and grabbed a small plastic waste bin from next to her television and rushed over to Draco with it. "I'm alright. I still just can't do Apparating very well."

"Come and sit down, honey." Hermione took Draco's arm and led him over to sit next to Harry. "I'll get you a cup of tea."

The couple were left alone, and Harry curled into the corner of the couch away from Draco. "Harry, please don't be like this," Draco sighed. "I heard the last few things you said. I'll admit I was rash in taking this promotion. They caught me at an emotional time and I wanted it over with. Bill had just warned me that they weren't going to ease up on me until I accepted the promotion. I know they would eventually have to back off, but I wanted some closure. I was confident I could succeed with this."

"You told me when they offered you the promotion that work didn't seem so important in the greater scheme of things. I started to believe you when you said that. You had me convinced you wanted..." Harry stopped and looked away. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters," Draco murmured and slid across the couch to curl up behind Harry's back. "Can you understand how torn I've been with this?"

"Draco, I'm tired of talking about it," Harry mumbled. "You said it was final once the contracts are signed. It's done. I don't want to hear about it anymore. I just want to go home and sleep."

Draco frowned. "Are we ok, though?"

Harry turned around to study Draco for a moment. "Ask me again when the baby comes and you've tried juggling all your commitments," he said. "I don't think you'll be so satisfied with my answer just now."

o o o o o

The following morning, Draco was dressing in some comfortable clothing after he indulged in a long shower. He hadn't slept well again the previous night after his confrontation with Harry and had woken very early for a weekend, but thankfully hadn't felt sick at all as yet. In fact, he was ravenous and planned on making Harry a huge breakfast in bed.

He just couldn't get Harry's comment of 'I don't think you'll be so satisfied with my answer just now' out of his head and he couldn't understand exactly what Harry was implying. After that, Harry had literally completely dropped the subject, and Draco didn't want to bring it up again in case he upset Harry further. There had been absolutely no resolution of the issue, and Draco didn't see how there could be until the baby came, at least according to what Harry had said. They hadn't spoken much to each other after leaving Hermione's place. There wasn't really tension or awkwardness between them, just a mutual understanding that they weren't going to pursue the issue any further.

They had come home and made love sweetly with Harry spooned up behind Draco. It was enough reassurance for Draco that Harry loved him unconditionally, and by the time they both reached their climax, the raw emotion of the moment left Draco once again with silent tears dripping down his cheek and wetting his pillow.

Now that it was morning and Harry had time to sleep on things, Draco was concerned everything would go pear-shaped again and Harry wouldn't be talking to him or something. He was watching Harry sleeping as he pulled on his tracksuit pants and smiled when Harry started stirring and made some small snuffling noises as he roused. He watched as Harry felt clumsily around the bed to check if he was alone or not before yawning and staring blearily at the ceiling.

Draco mentally crossed his fingers, hoping Harry wasn't awkward or angry with him. "Good morning, beautiful," he said, and Harry turned and smiled at him, squinting slightly to see him better without his glasses.

"I thought you must be downstairs or something," Harry croaked, his voice still hoarse from sleep.

Draco picked up a gold gift bag from the dresser and sat next to Harry on the bed. "Happy anniversary," Draco whispered and gave Harry a small kiss.

"You remembered," Harry replied in wonder. "Happy anniversary. Let me go brush my teeth, and I'll be back." He placed the present on his pillow and padded into the bathroom.

Of course I fucking remembered! Draco thought to himself in irritation. He'd never once forgotten their anniversary; why would he start now?

Harry came back a few minutes later carrying a small package wrapped in silver wrapping with a big blue bow. Draco grinned. "Where did you have that hidden?"

"Behind the spare toilet rolls in the cupboard. I made sure there were a few rolls already out near the loo so you wouldn't need to go searching for them," Harry explained and plopped back down on the bed. He handed Draco the gift with a smile.

Draco fingered the shiny bow. "Why did you think I would have forgotten our anniversary? You seemed surprised I remembered."

"It's been a hectic year and you've still not been feeling well on and off. You've had more important things on your mind. I wouldn't have been concerned if our anniversary had slipped your mind this year." Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and nuzzled his neck. "Come back to bed?"

"What? Before we open presents? Are you insane?" Draco laughed.

"No, just horny," Harry purred and took one of Draco's hands and placed it on his groin. Draco immediately felt that Harry was indeed very horny.

"I was going to make you breakfast in bed," Draco protested weakly.

"I'm only hungry for you..." Harry whispered into Draco's ear, and Draco shivered in response.

"That's just a morning erection. Go take a piss, and you'll be ready for breakfast," Draco said shakily, hoping Harry wouldn't listen to him.

"I could do that, couldn't I?" Harry murmured, and his tongue darted out and teased Draco's earlobe.

"I..." Draco squeaked.

"But I really just want to fuck you."

"Fuck," Draco gasped out, flopping onto his back and Harry was straddling him in moments.

But it wasn't meant to be. Harry was sucking on Draco's nipple when Draco pushed him off abruptly. He sat up and started dry retching into his hand, and Harry leapt back in reflex.

"Will you make it to the toilet?" Harry asked hastily, fumbling blindly for the bucket next to the bed which seemed to have disappeared.

"I'm not -" Draco started and cut himself off with another heave, "going to throw up."

"Uh, ok," Harry said, not really convinced. He patted Draco's back and watched Draco struggle with his stomach.

"Ok, maybe I am!" Draco cried and ran to the bathroom. Harry sighed and allowed himself a small, disappointed groan.

There was a knock at their bedroom door, and then Blaise waltzed in without waiting to be invited.

"BLAISE!" Harry yelled and scrambled to cover himself with the bed covers.

"Yeah, sorry," Blaise said, though he wasn't really sorry at all. "Are you two coming down for breakfast?" His question was punctuated by a loud vomiting sound emitting from the bathroom.

"Does it sound like it?" Harry snapped. "In case your pea brain forgot, it's our anniversary today, and I told you Draco and I will be spending the weekend alone."

"Oh yeah," Blaise said with a nod. "Draco sounds like he's full of romance this morning," he snorted.

"Why did you just barge in here?" Harry snarled. "We could've been fucking!" Blaise looked pointedly at the bathroom and cocked an eyebrow. "He doesn't throw up every morning anymore!"

"So, he picks the morning of your anniversary," Blaise said lightly, which just enraged Harry further. Blaise moved to go into the bathroom.

"Don't you fucking dare! He doesn't want you gawping at him while he's being sick!" Harry screeched.

"I'm not going in to gawp at him, you dick! I'm going to see he's alright!" Blaise argued.

"HE'S FUCKING FINE! This has been going on for months! He prefers to be left alone unless he's having a really bad day! Which he is not! So, bugger off!" Harry hissed.

"He may have chosen you, but it doesn't mean you own him, Potter!" Blaise cried.

"CHOSEN ME?!" Harry exploded.

"What the hell is going on?" Draco cried hoarsely from the bathroom door. "Why the fuck are you two shouting at each other? Blaise, why are you even bloody in our bedroom at this time of morning?!"

Harry scrambled out of bed and pulled on a pair of boxers that were lying on the floor next to the bed, hoping Blaise didn't catch a glimpse of his bits. "Are you alright, love?" he asked in concern.

"You must be getting mighty fed up with asking that after five months," Blaise commented petulantly.

"That was out of line, Blaise," Draco seethed as he took in the hurt look on Harry's face. "Apologise to Harry."

"Why should I?" Blaise crossed his arms and looked away. "He doesn't want me here. He won't share you with anyone! He's the reason you haven't been in touch with your friends lately! He thinks now that you're having a baby, he can seal the deal and finally cut your mates out of the picture!"

Harry's mouth dropped open, and he gaped in disbelief at what Blaise had just said. "You fucking bastard," he growled. "How dare you!"

"Harry..." Draco said, sounding a little nervous about Harry's reaction. He watched as Harry's wand hand flexed involuntarily.

"AREN'T YOU GOINT TO SET HIM STRAIGHT?!" Harry shouted at his boyfriend. Draco glanced between Harry and Blaise, and Harry took his hesitation badly. "I can't believe this is fucking happening on our anniversary. After everything I've put up with lately, I thought we could at least have today." He snatched his bathrobe from where it was hanging over their dresser and he yanked it on as he stalked angrily from the room; the door slammed loudly in his wake.