A Priceless Gift

Chapter 24

Draco turned when he felt a hand on his back and found Harry gazing at him with eyes full of concern. Draco smiled. "I'm fine. Just sulking about how fucked up our world is sometimes..." he mused.

"The wizarding world?" Harry asked in confusion.

"No. I mean wizards and Muggles alike. We never thought we could have a baby, Harry, and it's highly unlikely we ever would have if it wasn't for Hermione. Yet, there are these arseholes walking around getting women pregnant left, right, and centre but not wanting anything to do with their children. Then you have fathers that stick around for a short part of the child's life, only to walk out on the whole family and never to be seen again! I don't get it. It's not fair that people like you and I have to go to extremes to get a baby, when there are dickheads like that who just... argh!" Draco put his hands up to his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

Harry put an arm around his fiancé's shoulders. "You can't be dwelling on this, love. We can't do anything to change it. You just need to be satisfied that our baby will have both parents and will have nothing but the best. He or she will have more love and support than he or she can handle. That's all that matters. You also have to realise that all these babies you are concerned about are probably much better off without wankers like that in their lives."

Draco nodded. "Yeah, I know. I'm just being all emotional again," he laughed softly. "I'm more than ready for this Couvade Syndrome to be over with. Men weren't made to deal with emotions like this. We're too weak."

Harry laughed. "I'm going to tell Hermione you said that," he teased and Draco snorted.

"We better get back in. I promise to behave myself. I want to help Hermione as much as possible, seeing as we are going to be there for the birth," Draco said. He gave Harry a kiss, and they made their way back inside, hand in hand.

o o o o o

Harry slowly eased an ice pack onto Draco's forehead and Draco hissed in response. "Do you want a headache potion?" Harry asked with an amused smile. Draco nodded and then winced in pain.

"A room full of pregnant women and you're the one to pass out, Draco!" Hermione laughed. "Bloody typical!"

"It wasn't my fault that woman who calls herself an instructor can't instruct to save herself," Draco mumbled.

"We have classes on this for a reason. You were breathing too deeply. Short, sharp breaths, she said. It's no wonder you fainted," Hermione told him.

"Plus it was goddamn hot in that room," Harry pointed out.

"I don't know why they picked a room with wooden floors. I wouldn't have a bloody great lump on my head if I fell onto carpet," Draco sniped. "I felt like a complete idiot doing those breathing exercises with you," he complained to Hermione.

Harry laughed. "You were the most enthusiastic one in the room!"

"That's beside the point. I was just trying to be supportive," Draco sniffed.

"And you were," Hermione insisted. "Both of you were fantastic once the class got started. Well, up until you fainted from breathing too heavily, hon." She patted Draco's knee with a chuckle. "I have complete faith that you will both be wonderful during the birth."

"Just so long as I don't have to watch them give you needles, I'll do my best," Draco declared.

"I don't doubt it," Hermione agreed with a smile. Just thinking about her two friends in the delivery room made her giggle.

o o o o o

Narcissa stepped out of the fireplace in Harry and Draco's living room. "Mum!" Draco cried in surprise. "What are you doing here?" He jumped up and gave his mother a tight hug.

"I decided to come visit my two favourite boys as I have a free slot on my timetable," Narcissa explained and then spotted Harry lying miserably on the couch.

"Hi Narcissa," Harry mumbled.

"What's the matter, darling?" Narcissa asked immediately, moving over to her son-in-law to be.

"He ate too much of Hermione's chocolate cake after lunch," Draco snorted. "Now he has a stomach ache."

"Fuck off," Harry snapped.

"Awww, my poor baby has a sore tummy," Draco cooed. "Want to borrow my bucket?" He smirked and then scowled when Narcissa slapped his arm.

"You are in no position to be mocking Harry about feeling sick, mister!" Narcissa scolded. "Or for what he eats, for that matter."

"It's all his own doing!" Draco protested. Harry frowned at him, then rolled on his side and looked away. "I'm sorry, babe, but you ate so bloody much of that cake!"

"Bite me, Draco," Harry mumbled.

"I'm just trying to make you feel better by cheering you up," Draco sighed.

"Then come lie down with me, or something! Don't pull the piss out of me," Harry snapped. "It's not like I haven't been comforting you enough lately," he finished with an angry huff.

"I've come to deliver your first baby present," Narcissa announced to stave off an inevitable argument.

"Ooo, hand it over!" Draco cried and bounced eagerly in his seat. "Who's it from?"

Narcissa glanced warily at Harry and cleared her throat. "Um, I'd rather not say."

Draco was ripping into the gift and Harry rolled his eyes. "No, that's ok. I don't want to help open our baby's first gift!" Draco stopped and glanced guiltily at his mother. He gathered up the half unwrapped present and went over to perch on the edge of the couch next to Harry. Harry gave a slight smile and watched Draco finish unwrapping the present.

Draco pulled out a small, soft black bundle and held it up to study it. Next thing, he was laughing his arse off. "THE FUCKING BASTARD!" Harry exploded and snatched the item from Draco. "Your bloody godfather got our son or daughter baby Slytherin robes!" he screeched. Draco just kept laughing hysterically and Narcissa giggled.

"But... they... are... so cute," Draco choked out amidst his laughter.

"God, if I didn't have a sore stomach before, I bloody do now," Harry complained with a sneer on his face and held up the small black robe made of soft cotton, with a silver-white wool lining, complete with a tiny Slytherin crest and scarf. "This is going nowhere near our baby." He glared slightly at Narcissa and she laughed, throwing up her hands defensively.

"Don't give me that green-eyed, sulky look. I knew nothing of this. I was pure Ravenclaw, through and through!" Narcissa cried with a giggle. "I'm with you on this one, darling."

Harry gave Draco a triumphant look. "Ha!" he said smugly, shoving the garment back in the paper and handing it back to Draco. "Have them framed and hung on our bathroom wall. I won't ever need a laxative again!"

"You wait," Draco warned with a grin. "You won't always be here when baby needs dressing. I'm going to Floo Sev and thank him."

"Yeah, give him this message for me," Harry said. "Tell him he can kiss this." He rolled over and patted his arse. Draco just laughed before leaving the room.

o o o o o

"Harry, I'm hungry. I can't sleep," Draco said and nudged his sleeping fiancé in the arm. "Harry..." Harry didn't stir. "Har-ry?" Draco tried in a louder, sing-song voice. Harry rolled over in his sleep and farted.

"Oh yeah, thanks so much for your concern," Draco said with a snort. This is what finally woke Harry up.

"Draco?" he croaked.

"You farted on me," Draco huffed.

"I did not," Harry mumbled, shuffling back down in the bed. "And even if I did, it's your cooking that did it."

"I can't sleep," Draco informed him.

"What time is it, anyway?" Harry mumbled, eyes slipping shut sleepily again.

"One fifteen," Draco said. "I'm hungry."

"After one in the morning and you're hungry?" Harry said with a sigh. "Go and eat, then."

"My back hurts. Can you go for me? I only want a bacon and tomato sauce sandwich," Draco insisted.

"Only? Bugger off, Draco. I'm not cooking for you at one am with both Blaise and Hermione staying as guests."

"Can we shag, then?" Draco asked. Harry groaned and put the pillow over his head. "Pleeeease, Harry?"

"I'm tired! Please let me sleep, Draco," Harry whined.

Draco smacked his lips. "Fine," he grumbled and then spooned up behind Harry. "Don't you dare fart while I'm like this."

"Hmmf," was Harry's answer as sleep claimed him again. Draco sighed slightly, a little annoyed Harry didn't stay awake to keep him company and cater to his needs.

Half an hour later, Draco was still awake, but feeling a little more sleepy. He was just about to doze off when something shifted in his calf, followed by the worst pain he swore he had ever felt. "HARRY!" he screeched and Harry shot up in bed, looking around frantically. "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" Draco cried, grabbing hold of his leg.

"What hurts, baby?" Harry asked urgently. "What can I do to help?"

Draco screwed up his face and whined. "OWWWW! FUCK!" he moaned. Harry suspected straight away what was wrong. He pried Draco's hands away from his leg and felt that the muscle was all cramped.

"Try moving your foot, love. You've just got a muscle cramp," Harry told him and tried kneading the muscle to relax it again.

"I CAN'T! DON'T TOUCH IT! IT HURTS!"

"You can. It will stop soon," Harry said. Draco soon relaxed and was left whimpering into Harry's thigh where he had curled around Harry's leg in pain. "Shhh, it's ok now. They hurt like hell, I know."

"I'm sorry I woke you so suddenly," Draco mumbled. "It hurt so much."

"It's ok, honey. Come on, try and get some sleep, alright? I'll rub your back for awhile 'til you fall asleep," Harry said.

"I need a piss," Draco muttered and got out of bed. "Shit, it still hurts! It feels all bruised."

"It will feel better if you walk on it," Harry promised and sunk back down beneath the covers. Draco wandered into their en suite to relieve himself, and Harry heaved a deep sigh. As much as he hated to admit it, he would be thoroughly glad when the pregnancy - and Draco's Couvade - was over.

o o o o o

Harry was sitting on the couch chatting with Ron and Hermione while he sipped a beer. Ron was kneeling in front of Hermione rubbing her swollen feet and Harry was amused to see how much is red-headed friend was enjoying pampering his girlfriend.

Ron picked up his own bottle and held it up to Harry. "Cheers, mate. You deserve a medal for putting up with Draco throughout this pregnancy." He took a swig from the bottle as Harry laughed.

"He's not that bad and it's not his fault," Harry pointed out. "Hermione's had her moments too."

Hermione laughed. "Moments, yes. Not one eight month long moment."

"Did you get over all your, uh, relationship stuff?" Ron asked hesitantly.

Harry smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Now that the issues with his job are resolved, we're as strong as ever. I love having him around more often and we're just really looking forward to the baby coming now."

Ron grinned. "I still can't believe you're about to be a fucking father in just a few weeks! How cool will it be to have a wee baby around? I can't wait for that to be me."

Hermione's expression fell slightly and Harry didn't miss her hand curling reflexively over her stomach. Harry's eyes narrowed in response. "Can I feel again, Hermione?" he asked abruptly to draw her attention.

Hermione blinked and then smiled at him. "Sure, love," she said. "Talk to it."

"You know I feel weird about that. Especially with an audience," Harry mumbled.

"Well, I can't leave the room for you to be alone with it," Hermione laughed. "Draco talks to it all the time."

"I know and I love watching him do it, but it's weird for me," Harry said and placed a hand on Hermione's stomach.

"Where is your other half, anyway?" Ron asked and finished his beer.

"Sleeping," Harry replied. "He had a rough night last night. He couldn't sleep and then he had a bad leg cramp."

"Oh, they're hell. I've had a couple myself," Hermione said. "I'm having no troubles sleeping, though. In fact, I'm buggered most of the time and sleep like a log."

"Have you thought about taking early maternity leave?" Harry asked. "Like, starting now?"

"I always planned to work right up to the birth. I don't really want to take more time off than necessary," Hermione said.

"But maybe it is necessary if you're so tired," Ron offered, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

"HARRY! I CAN'T TAKE A SHIT AGAIN! CAN YOU COME RUB MY STOMACH?!" Draco voice shouted from upstairs.

Ron started sniggering. "Sleeping?" he asked sarcastically.

"He doesn't realise Ron and I are here, does he?" Hermione asked with a smirk.

"I highly doubt it," Harry snorted. "If he's shouting about his toilet habits publicly, then we have a bigger problem than I thought."

"Haaarrrryyyyy..." Draco's voice whined just before he appeared in the door way of the living room dressed in red pyjamas with black and white cows all over them, hair sticking up in all directions, and scratching his balls distractedly. He looked up and started abruptly. "... fuck..." he muttered with a frown. He turned and glared at Harry. "You said both Blaise and Hermione weren't going to be here today!"

"Sorry, hon, it's my fault," Hermione piped up. "My feet were sore so we came home early from shopping."

"S'alright," Draco said and plopped down in Harry's lap, melting back against him when Harry's arms snaked around his waist. "I didn't mean to imply I didn't want you here. I just expected Harry to be alone... obviously..." He scowled slightly. Harry put his hand up under Draco's pyjama top and rubbed his stomach.

"I've seen you in a worse state quite a few times recently," Hermione reminded him and Draco smiled a bit.

"I just feel like a big, fat, horrible lump," Draco said. "It's just one symptom after the other these days. I'll take the puking over all this weird shit any day."

"I thought you were still puking, mate?" Ron asked and Draco shook his head.

"Nah, I stopped that after my operation," Draco replied as Harry pulled out his wand and summoned something to him that Draco couldn't make out. "What's that?" he asked, watching a tiny vial fly into Harry's hand.

"Take it for me?" Harry requested.

Draco's eyes narrowed. "No, bugger off. Last time you asked me that, I was knocked out for hours and woke up in the hospital wing."

"It wasn't my fault you had an allergic reaction to it! This will help you, I promise. I got it from Severus," Harry told him.

Draco took the vial and eyed it closely. "What is it?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's a mild laxative made from natural ingredients."

"You spoke to Sev about my..." Draco cried and indicated frantically to his stomach. "Fuck, you know I didn't want him know about any of our private stuff! Especially anything to do with the Couvade!"

"Well, good thing I don't always listen to you! He told me you should have gone to him for help with this because it's what is causing your hae -" Draco slapped his hand over Harry's mouth before Harry could finish the sentence.

Harry peeled Draco's hand away from his mouth and smacked his lips. "Fine. Have a sore arse, but don't whinge to me about it!" he snapped.

Draco exhaled sharply through his nose before ripping the stopper out of the vial and downing it in one shot. "Happy now?" he sneered.

"Yes, but there is something else..." Harry said tentatively.

"Oh for..." Draco started but stopped talking before he got himself into trouble again. "What?"

"He gave me a salve, for, well... you know..." Harry stammered. "Your arse..." Harry didn't know where Draco had had his wand kept in his pyjamas, but in one swift movement, Draco was flushing a bright red and Harry found himself on the end of Draco's wand.

"Any issues with my arse are entirely between you and I, Potter. You ever mention my fucking ring to Sev at all in the future, you won't see it! EVER AGAIN!" Draco sneered.

Harry just cocked an eyebrow at his bright red fiancé and shrugged. "He said the soreness will go within hours and won't come back if you keep using it regularly..." Harry pressed and he could see Draco's interest was piqued. "And, it would be even more thorough if applied by someone else..." Draco visibly caved. He cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly in Harry's lap. "Plus, it needs to be put on very attentively... rubbed in very well..."

"Snape so fucking didn't say all of that," Ron muttered and Hermione kicked him lightly in the arm. Draco didn't notice, however, as he was too busy licking his lips and gazing hungrily into Harry's eyes.

"Attentively, you say?" Draco asked hoarsely and Harry's own tongue popped out to wet his lips sensually.

"Mmmm," Harry confirmed, tweaking one of Draco's nipples lightly.

"Well," Draco started and then swallowed to wet his now-dry mouth, "if a Potions Master says that..."

"Merlin, we're out of here!" Hermione declared with a snort. She held out a hand for Ron to help her up, and by the time they left the room, Draco had Harry on his back pinned to the couch and was attacking his neck hungrily.

o o o o o

The next day, Harry led Draco cautiously up their stairs with a blindfold on. "Don't you make me run into a bloody wall!" Draco cried.

"Draco, I wouldn't do that, you dick. Why would I hurt you intentionally?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Well, I've been rather an arse lately. You may feel the urge," Draco replied.

"You react better to passive punishment," Harry tossed back, smirking to himself.

"Such as?"

"Withholding sexual favours, or withholding the tomato sauce," Harry laughed.

"Maybe you should just lead me into a wall..." Draco said, sounding worried Harry was going to use both of his punishments immediately. "If those are punishments, what do you use as rewards?"

"You haven't done anything to remotely deserve a reward lately, my love. You've been a right pain in my rectum for weeks now," Harry intoned. "However, I assume a reward would constitute sex and tomato sauce in some capacity."

Draco stopped walking abruptly and cleared his throat. "I'll be really good!" he cried and Harry laughed again. "No, Harry, I really will! If you give me my reward now, I'll be good forever."

"You may as well promise me that Severus Snape is going to have a sex change, because that's more likely to occur than you being good forever," Harry declared and Draco huffed in annoyance. "Now, shut up for a minute. I have a surprise for you."

Draco pouted. "If it doesn't involve your bare arse and a bottle of sauce, I don't want it," he sulked.

"Oh, I think you will." Draco heard a door click open and his skin prickled in anticipation. They must be going into their bedroom! Maybe Harry was finally going to repay the chocolate body paint favour! Chocolate wasn't quite tomato sauce, but it would be adequate. Harry chuckled in amusement. "I can see your reaction in your pants, love. We aren't going into our bedroom."

"Why the fuck not?" Draco demanded. "We haven't had a go in -"

"Two hours. I sucked you off two hours ago in the shower, so keep your pants on while I give you my surprise! My tongue isn't going anywhere!" Harry cried impatiently. "Ready?" Draco nodded, so Harry whipped the blindfold off his fiancé. "Surprise!"

Draco blinked to clear his bleary eyes at the sudden light and then gasped, grabbing Harry's arm in surprise. "Harry..." he breathed and looked around. They were in one of their guest rooms - now quite obviously a baby's nursery. It was filled with white baby furniture, and standing in the centre of the room was a beautiful white baby crib adorned in layers of sheer white lace, satin, and ribbons. "That's..."

Harry nodded. "Yep," he said excitedly. "Your baby crib. The one you slept in when you were born." He saw Draco's throat working furiously and the inevitable tears began to fall.

"This is so perfect," Draco sobbed. Harry chuckled and pulled Draco to his chest for a hug, but Draco suddenly stiffened. He pulled abruptly away from Harry and wiped his eyes. "How the fuck did you find out the sex of the baby?!" he hissed, stalking over to the other side of the room and snapping up a large, fluffy teddy bear. "It's fucking blue!" He launched the bear at the wall. His anger surged when Harry started laughing.

When Draco pulled out his wand and started swooping on him, Harry held up his hands defensively, but was still laughing. "It's your bear, you arse! It's the first present you got when you were born! Funnily enough, also from Severus," Harry explained and grabbed Draco's arm to calm him, eventually being able to urge Draco back into the hug. "I don't know the sex, love. Your Mum gave us your crib and your teddy to start the baby's room. I wanted to surprise you with it."

"Oh," Draco said in a tiny voice before he started crying again. "Then why can't I remember the teddy?"

Harry smiled. "Your Mum told me you may not. You had many toys as a child and she made a point of keeping that bear out of your reach so it stayed immaculate."

Draco nodded and sniffled. "Ok," he said. "Sorry, I overreacted."

"It's alright, love." Harry stroked his hair and then gave him a kiss.

"What if we have a girl, though?" Draco asked.

"There is no rule saying a girl can't have a blue teddy," Harry murmured in amusement. "We'll put pink ribbon around it's neck if we have to cross that bridge."

"I hate the green walls, but everything else is just... perfect!" Draco said, giving Harry a watery smile. The emotions swelled within him again as he took in the baby items in the room.

"The room isn't decorated yet, baby. This is only the furniture. The walls are still the same colour they were when it was a guest room" Harry pointed out.

Draco's wet eyes flicked to the walls. "Oh yeah," he said tearfully.

Harry pointed to two very large paint cans sitting beside the changing table. "One is pink paint, the other is blue," he explained. "When our baby is born, we will decorate the room together."

"Together..." Draco repeated and then nuzzled his face into Harry's shoulder. "I'd like that." Harry pulled Draco down onto the floor and they say for a long time together in each others arms, lost in thoughts of their baby.